It Starts Small

Today’s reading we run across an interesting fellow. We actually met him very briefly earlier.

⁵⁸ They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. And the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 

Acts 7:50

Saul agreed with putting him to death…

Acts 8:1

Saul had a “perfect” normal. We learn from him later in his letters that he was born into the right family, went to the right school, had a great career, and was morally impeccable. He was an up and coming guy who was young, successful, and the person you wanted on your team. Saul was respected by Romans because he had enough money, he bought himself Romans citizenship. But something dark lurked within Saul that no one could see. Saul had a dark side he did not even know about.

We learned that when Stephen was murdered, this man named Saul was in the middle of it. When the mass persecution happen, Saul was there giving out murderous orders.

9 Now Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest ² and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem

Acts 9:1-2

Saul had asked for special permission to throw those “Jesus followers” into prison as he encountered them. Saul was on fire for his career. SO much so that he was going to destroy anyone who opposed his job. His job happen to be a religious one and his goal was to destroy the first church.

 ³ Saul, however, was ravaging the church. He would enter house after house, drag off men and women, and put them in prison.

Acts 8:3

Saul is looking like someone we aught no associate with. Thankfully, God is gracious. God intervened just when things were about to go too far. For a head strong person like Saul, God chose to speak to him directly, in person and through a strong light.

As a result, Saul was thrown into the heart of chaos.

⁹ He was unable to see for three days and did not eat or drink.

Acts 9:9

Everything that Saul held onto in life was in limbo. HIs old way was shattered. It was not just gone, it was shattered. So what was God doing here?

Giving Saul the wake-up call so many can testify to. God stopped Saul from his path of self-destruction. God had in a sense taken away Saul’s old eyes and given him new eyes to see. Saul of Tarsus could now see.

The goal of God’s wake-up call is not punishment. His goal is restoration. Wake-up calls shatter wrong assumptions and brings us a spiritual awakening. If you are in this situation, look to the prophet Samuel and his prayer:

 The Lord came, stood there, and called as before, “Samuel, Samuel!”

Samuel responded, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

1 Samuel 3:10
(Bold for emphasis)

If the Lord is calling your name, respond and listen.

Thoughts to Ponder:

• When was the last time you experienced a wake-up call?
• What was God trying to teach you?
• If that wake-up call is now, what is God trying to tell you?

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