What do you think of when you read about the Apostle Paul? He was an intriguing person whose inspired writings are just as relevant today as they were when first written. Paul was introduced to us as Saul. Stephen was being stoned to death and this Saul held the coats of those who threw the rocks. Saul was a highly educated person with all the zeal and drive to push him to success as measured by his peers prior to the great change in his life. Just two (2) years after the death of Stephen, we find Saul on the road to Damascus with his troop of enforcers to inflict punishment and terror on the Christians of that area. I am sure we all know that story and the events that followed.
The change from Saul to Paul was a dramatic event. He never regretted the change. Luke recorded in Acts 9 the following:
Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
What a change. The one thing that is not evident in Paul’s early life is a showing of compassion. His drive to corral and stop this Christian sect from spreading and to eliminate this movement was fueled by distrust, hate, no yield to change AND his misguided belief that he was doing the will of God. I imagine his past haunted him throughout the rest of his life. Was that his thorn in his flesh?
Read the 13th chapter of First Corinthians and see the complete change in its author. Compassion for people takes precedent over hate. All the attributes of love are described in a few short sentences. Paul’s faith, hope and love for people was fueled by the faith, hope and love shown him. On the road to Damascus, only Jesus could have had that effect on Paul. Jesus can have that same effect on us. Let him change you.
