Acts 9:1-19 Saul's Eyes Opened

Acts 9:1-19 NIV
God can heal anyone he chooses of blindness. God can call whomever He chooses to serve Him. Here is the story of Saul's spiritual healing; his conversion. On the way to Damascus, this murderous enemy of God and God's people has an encounter with the ascended Jesus. He has, in short, a conversion experience. Saul loses his physical sight even as he gains spiritual insight. Through yet another vision to him; as well as a vision to a disciple named Ananias; he regains his physical vision even he is filled with the Holy Spirit. This man, who just days earlier, is on his way to destroy Christians, desires and is baptized into the Body of Christ. He receives the Holy Spirit, is baptized and sets forth on the mission God has called him to; to proclaim the Word to the gentiles and kings and all of Israel. In just one encounter with the Lord he is converted from persecutor to persecuted.

And, so we pray for our enemies, even as Stephen prayed for his in the moments he was being stoned to death. We pray and hope that the Lord would call, even our worst enemies, to serve him. It can happen. Just read the story of Saul (whom we know as St. Paul) and you will have hope even for those who would destroy the church on earth. One can never know whose eyes God will open or whom He will call.

Again, it is said that we should love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. (Matt 5:4)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Acts 7:54-60 NIV Forgive Those Who Would Destroy You

Acts 7:54-60 NIV
There are times when we think that we will never be able to forgive someone. Yet, here is Stephen following in the footsteps of Jesus, forgiving those who are putting him to death. A young man Saul, is witness to this event. This young man you probably know better as St. Paul, missionary to the gentiles. Yes, Paul was there to witness the stoning of Stephen. He encouraged it as Saul was a great persecutor of the Christians. Until the day that Saul met the ascended Lord on the way to Damascus. The Lord wanted to know why Saul was so busy persecuting him and his followers. That is the day that the old man in Saul died and Paul began to live and serve the Lord even to his own death. One of the most ardent persecutors of Christians became one of the greatest missionaries ever. We can never know what the Lord has in store for any of us, even our enemies.

Forgive your enemies and pray for them, even as our Lord Jesus and Paul and many other saints before and among have gone to their deaths, praying for and forgiving their enemies. For our hope is not in this world; but that as we (and all whom we encounter) draw our last breaths that we, too, might look to the heaven and see the glory of God, with Jesus standing at His right hand.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Isaiah 59 - Shun Evil, Shake The Dust Off Your Feet

^"Truth is nowhere to be found,
    and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.

The Lord looked and was displeased
    that there was no justice." (Isa 59:25 NIV)

 

It is a very sad thing that those who shun evil often become the prey. Looked upon by much of society as misfits, outcasts, religious zealots, those who look to speak the truth with integrity and shun the shenanigans of those who want to stir up trouble for the faithful; they become fair game, targets; as though they had VICTIM imprinted on their foreheads. Sadly, that is the lot of many faithful Christians... to be persecuted for what they believe. This includes even within families. How many couples do you know, where one spouse belittles and derides the other for their faith? How many brothers or sisters attack another because they strive to live in the truth? And... even in the church... How often have you heard that one is not a Christian because they don't/won't go along with everything that others within the church say or do? Love is the ultimate word. We have to love and accept everyone. Love is great. It is the greatest! (1 Corinth 13:13) But, love sometimes calls us to do the hard thing. It does not call us to accept evil as something good. Love sometimes calls us to confront those who would persecute others with their evil tongues. I'm ok, you're ok is not the truth, anything and everything goes is not ok. We are only ok; we are only saved, by the blood of Jesus. That is a love that calls us to do the hard thing. It calls us to take up our cross and follow Him (Matt 10:38, 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23), not in the world's way of persecuting those who follow Him, but in His Way.

There are times when we must shun evil even if it means we will become someone's prey; the target of their gossip or other persecutions. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke all advise us to : "And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” (Mark 6:11, see also Matt 10:14, Luke 9:5)

One of my most difficult lessons in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) while in seminary was to learn to shake the dust off my feet. That is: to not focus so much attention on visits to those who refused to listen and to focus more time on those who want to hear God's promises. Pastors often get called to crisis'. Sometimes, though, answering every (repeated) call to those one or two who need help; yet refuse to actually listen even as they are receiving financial or other aid repeatedly from the congregation, sometimes takes away from the ministry of the people who actually want and need Pastoral care and other assistance; away from those whom who desire and need the help of the LORD. Is there justice in supporting the persecutor and ignoring the needs of the persecuted? Sadly, sometimes, you just have to shake the dust from your feet as you walk away from those who would continue to deride the name and the power of God to save. Sometimes, you just have to walk away; as pastoral care can sometimes become enabling rather than empowering. Sometimes, "tough love" is the only real love that can be applied to do God's will.

 

Sound harsh? I thought so and  I still think so. But, the truth is that there is a whole world of people in need out there and there are only so many hours in a day. To whom shall we go; to those who will listen and be made whole or to those who repeatedly reject the truth, the Word of the LORD; to those who have turned their backs on Him and make no bones about doing that? To whom shall we bring a word of comfort; those who persecute or those who are persecuted?

 

In order that you don't misunderstand me... I am not saying that we should not visit or share the Good News with those who persecute others. They, too, need to hear the promises of God for them. Jesus, in fact, encouraged us strongly, to visit those in prison (physical or spiritual). They are indeed hurting and in need of care. I am saying; however, that once you have planted the seed, if the Word is rejected, move on. Saul (St. Paul) had been one of the persecutors who made a career out of making Christians his prey. Once the Word came to Him, he was saved. But, it took only one hearing of the Word! Once Jesus introduced himself to him, Saul repented and was saved. And... then what happened, he, himself, became one of the persecuted for proclaiming the Truth, who is Jesus the Christ!

A hard word today, but there is a great promise in our reading, a comforting promise, for all who believe, for the prey who shun evil, for those who are persecuted, and it is this:

 

"“The Redeemer will come to Zion,
to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,”
declares the Lord.

“As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit, who is on you, will not depart from you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants—from this time on and forever,” says the Lord." (Isa 59:20-21 NIV)

 

God's Peace - Pr. J