+DEV+ All Were Astonished

Date: October 2, 2013 2:51 AM
Topic: +DEV+  All Were Astonished

All Were Astonished

"All those who heard him were astonished and asked, 'Isn't he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name?'"  (Acts 9:21)

Scripture Focus: Acts 9:20-27

Blinded by the Living Word and led like a desperate child to Damascus, Saul was an unlikely convert. How had he persecuted Jesus? After all, Christ was no longer walking the earth in human form and Saul hadn't been present at the crucifixion. What was Jesus talking about?

It was the new Body of Christ Saul had abused. Jesus said, "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40). Through the faithful testimonies of those early Christians, those willing to proclaim the Gospel truth in spite of persecution from men like Saul, the Lord defended His own body. The truth marked in His hands and feet came alive when He confronted Saul.

God accomplished His purposes and confirmed, again - His character of grace. In Saul's famous experience on the Damascus Road, we see how a once murderous, sinful man was radically transformed, changed in the presence of Jesus. We see how God still takes the evil, stubbornness, and self-conceit of our lives to bring us to Him.

Insight: Saul became Paul. what a gracious God we have who changes our identity, our names, for his purposes!




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