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When St Paul discovered the difference between the
spirit of truth and the spirit of error; he repented (made a decision) and went
forward zealously spreading that truth. He was once blindly zealous for the
spirit of error. He thought he was giving God glory in the things he had done
in the past. He believed a lie and his life manifested that lie; because he was
completely incapable of seeing what he was doing at the time.
However, the Father of Lights blinded him so he could
actually see the truth through the power of God. Not to be confusing; we understand
God is a Spirit and we know that God is Love; this was all done through the
power of His Love through His Son; Jesus Christ.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and
cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither
shadow of turning.” James 1:17 KJV
On the road to Damascus when he was blinded, Jesus
spoke to him, asking why he was persecuting him?
“
Paul's Testimony to Agrippa
…14"And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew dialect, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' 15"And I said, 'Who are You, Lord?' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16'But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you;…Acts 26:14-16
…14"And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew dialect, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' 15"And I said, 'Who are You, Lord?' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16'But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you;…Acts 26:14-16
Paul was once in darkness and the Father of Light’s (God’s
Love)
1. revealed the light and
2. gave him the light;
3. in order for him to see the light.
God’s light exposed everything that Paul
had inside of him and everything he was doing. There was not a spot inside or
outside that wasn't uncovered in Paul. God’s light exposed the spirit of error
for what it was; an enmity against the holiness of God.
God’s love for Paul stopped him in his tracks. At the
moment he may have been completely immobilized! I imagine after being struck by
lightning he could barely walk due to the weakness inside of him. No doubt his
aid had to help him the rest of the way because he could not see.
There was no pity that came from Jesus. What did he say
to Paul?
Get up and stand on your
feet!
Isn’t that just like a godly father right here on earth
who sees their child heading in the wrong direction and jerks him back where he
belongs? Then, tells him the wrong he has been doing.
Paul had no choice but to listen to Jesus when he
spoke. He was blind and down. Jesus was Lord and above!
Jesus may have said it this way: “Saul, why are you
persecuting me? This happened to you because you are going to be my minister! You
are my chosen vessel and you are going to work for me! You are going to go
where I send you and tell people what has happened to you and many other things
that I will show you!”
The truth is, that Jesus was very merciful to
Saul/Paul.
What would have happened to him if understanding never
came to him? If Paul never understood the depth of the love of Christ? There
must be millions and millions of people whose lives have been changed because
Saul became Paul and made that life
changing decision to be obedient that day.
It is a kindness when we care enough to talk to those
who need to know they are heading in the wrong direction. Sometimes they are
blind like Paul once was.
It is a kindness when we choose to point out the great
love Jehovah God has for those who are seeking and the many ways He reveals His
light, even by sending us people who love Him. When love conceives more love,
you can see that Jesus is in your midst.
Ruth Graham once prayed for their son Franklin Graham
when he was a young teenager doing things that he shouldn’t do, cried: “Lord, bring him back and please do it soon.
Break his leg or whatever it takes, but bring him back.”
Ruth prayed a strong short prayer, but our Father heard
the request and Franklin Graham is a godly man filled with integrity today with
a worldwide ministry. His reasons?
Because he loves!
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