April 27, 2018 Friday

“‘And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by consenting to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’” (Acts 22:20 NKJV)

            Many work very hard to cover up the bad things in their past because they fear others will think less of them or even despise them.  Paul on the other hand reveals the worst that he has done and the worst of what he did to the people he now is a part of.

            It would be proper to look at this verse in the context of when and why Paul makes this painful statement remembering this terrible moment but let us look at this verse by itself.  Let us look at the proper way to look at the sin, failure and horrific parts of our past.

            Paul is not making a passionless confession of a shortcoming in his past but a deep soulful shame and pain for an action he regrets.  We can see this because there is no flowery language and no attempt at defense but a declaration of guilt before a court.  This is no attempt at leniency through confession but a revealing of guilt.

            Why?  Why does Paul open this dark part of his past to others?  There are many reasons for this but the most prominent one for a Christian is to share the deepest darkness of our past to reveal the depth of the Light of Jesus by not only forgiving us but then using us!

            Paul also reveals the wondrous love and forgiveness of God’s people as they not only accept but even follow Paul who had persecuted their family in Jesus.  After a short time to make sure Paul was not trying to infiltrate them they not only accepted Paul but were guided by him as he expanded not only the boundaries of Christianity but its beliefs.

            This statement is an amazing picture of God’s ability to redeem a life and a wondrous example of the recycling of a human being through Jesus.  For Jesus forgave and redeemed one of the fieriest enemies to become one of the most acclaimed friends of the Gospel.  Imagine the impact of not only stopping the persecution of God’s people but changing that very person into one of the most heralded leaders in Christianity.

            For this recycled Saul who became known as Paul (for the change was that great) would, like the change of his name bridge the gap between Jews and Gentiles and prepare the way for the Church to connect all people in Jesus Christ!

            Paul calls us to use our Before Christ (BC) existence as a way of revealing the amazing grace of God and to open the hope that God not only can but will forgive and cleanse the worst of His enemies.

            Have you looked at your BC days and seen the difference since the Anno Domini (AD) or the year of the Lord in your life?  Have you allowed God to not only forgive you and redeem you but also recycle you to become a symbol of the power of the Light of Jesus over the darkness?  If not WHY NOT?

            Feeling a little better but my legs still hurt a lot.  Bonnie and I continue to have our devotion and time of prayer.  We still are using the devotional Near to the Heart of God by Robert J Morgan.  We have been using it for over a year now but it still is blessing us so much.  So many of the hymns which were written are expressions of the faith of those living in the midst of loss, pain and suffering.  Got a card and a present from Addie Hodgson who is my pen pal.  She sent me a homemade shaker and I really thank God for her.