Looking Back
“Behold, he prayeth.” —Acts 9:11
Read Acts 9:1-19
We all know the circumstances of Saul’s conversion. We first meet this persecutor of the church when Stephen was being stoned. He looked after the outer clothing of the men who stoned this faithful deacon. Saul agreed with the persecution of the Christians, and was instrumental in committing many to prison. No wonder the congregation in Jerusalem was afraid of this brutal man. He not only persecuted God’s people in the Holy City, but also in surrounding areas, countries and cities.
In today’s Bible passage Saul hurried to Damascus with letters permitting him to bring Christians back to Jerusalem to be committed to prison there. He showed no pity to the Christians be-cause he was convinced that faith in Jesus of Nazareth was wrong. For that reason Saul does his utmost to destroy the followers of Christ until Jesus, Whom he persecuted, appears unto him. He is the strong One, stronger than Saul.
Suddenly, in a moment of time, Saul became the prisoner of the Lord Jesus. The roaring lion is transformed into a meek lamb. Even more, the Lord says, “he is a chosen vessel unto me” (Acts 9:15). We cannot explain this great change nor comprehend it. We can only adore the fact that the Lord looks down upon enemies and transforms them into friends. Could this same God who still lives be pursuing you?
What does it mean that Paul was “a chosen vessel”?
This devotional was taken from “The Time of Your Life” a daily devotional published by the Youth & Educational Committee of the FRC. To order a printed copy of this book, contact: bookorders@frcna.org.