Face to Face With My Lord

And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ Acts 22:10 (ESV)

After the days when Jesus was crucified and ascended into Heaven, there was great persecution against the early Christians. Saul was leading the charge.

Saul was the son of a Pharisee and had a resume a mile long. He had been trained a Pharisee by the teacher of his day, Gamaliel. Saul was an expert in the law and the knowledge of the old testament prophets ran through his veins. He was advanced far beyond those of his age.

Saul was so sure of himself and what he held to be true of his ancestors’ religion that he would stop at nothing to make sure that it remained as sacred as he held it to be.

Saul was so zealous for his religion that he spent his time doing what he had to do to keep it from being brought down by any outside thinking. This included hunting down, arresting, and even bringing people to their death over what he thought he knew to be true of Jesus of Nazareth.

The persecution was so great against the church in Jerusalem, all except the apostles dispersed throughout Judea and Samaria.

Saul was known in the early church as a great persecutor. He was at the scene when Stephen was being stoned for sharing the good news of the resurrection of Jesus. Saul stood by and approved of their killing him. He even held the cloaks of those willing to throw the stones.

Saul was so zealous that he asked for papers to hunt down the Jews that had dispersed from Jerusalem to Damascus to “bring them back” to keep them as prisoners.

Stopped in His Tracks

On route to Damascus Saul's life took a dramatic turn. A turn that not only affected Saul but has affected every generation of Christians since. Share on X

While traveling Saul was suddenly thrown from his horse when a bright light from heaven shown all around him and his crew.

I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’ ‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ He replied. Acts 22:7-8 (BSB)

Jesus.

I just love this part of the story because even if you have never been on horseback on the road to Damascus, if you are a believer in Christ, this is your story.

You were going through life just minding your own business or like Saul, you were not and Jesus stopped you in your tracks.

The early Christians were known as followers of the Way.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 (NIV)

During Jesus’ ministry, He didn’t shy away from the fact that there was only one way to the Father in heaven and that was through Him.

Jesus said He is the way. The way to truth and life not only now but for all of eternity. If you have believed God’s words to be true, and have decided to take the step to turn from your way and follow Him, you have been stopped in your tracks.

For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 1 Peter 2:25 (BSB)

Saul was prepared to take down followers of the Way at any cost but Jesus had different plans for Saul.

Saul’s Bright Encounter

The bright light, the glory that surrounded Jesus, caused Saul to become blind. Seeing Jesus face to face made Saul realize that this Jesus people were talking about was not just some crazed movement, but He was real and He was ALIVE!

Jesus wanted to know why Saul was persecuting Him? At this moment I bet Saul was thinking the same thing.

This is such a great encounter because in these split moments, Saul saw Jesus, it changed everything for him.

Saul’s response to Jesus tells us Saul’s whole perspective, everything he thought he knew and treasured so deeply, changed.

His response was, “What shall I do, Lord?”

When Saul called him Lord it changed everything.

Saul Becomes Paul

Saul was told by Jesus to get up and go into Damascus. There he would be told what his assignment would be.

He went from persecuting others to submission in obedience. Paul was obedient to Jesus.

He went to Damascus and waited and prayed. I can imagine that his time in the room waiting for his next thing was a whirlwind of emotions. Peace, confusion, shame, remorse, repentance, freedom, just to name a few.

His life was about to be changed forever and he didn’t even know if he would be facing it with his sight or blindly. Nonetheless, he was obedient to Christ’s call on his life.

What Can We Learn

There are so many things that we can learn from Paul and his encounter with Christ. What did these things not only mean for Paul but for you and I and our walk with Christ?

• In order to be saved by faith, we must call Jesus Lord. Not just Lord of All but Lord over our lives. Share on X

For “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” Romans 10:13 (NLT)

• When we put our trust and faith in Christ we have to turn from our old ways to follow Him.

“Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.” Isaiah 45:22 (NIV)

• God has plans for us and calls us out by name.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

• When God calls on us it is best to answer with obedience. Go and do the thing Jesus calls you to do.

If you obey the commands of the LORD your God and walk in his ways, the LORD will establish you as his holy people as he swore he would do. Deuteronomy 28:9 (NLT)

• Chosen and called does not exclude us from suffering but does come with the promise of hope and peace.

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NLT)

Personal Reflections:

1. Have you asked Jesus to be the Lord of your life?  What does that mean to you?
2. Do you struggle with what Jesus has called you to go and do? What to you do to work through that struggle? What action stpes can you take?
3. When you feel the overwhelm of the world do you take the time to remeber the moment or moments that God stopped you in your tracks? It is a great time to reflect on His faithfulness to you!

 

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