Devotionals: From Persecutor to Apostle: The Convergence of Paul

Acts 9: 1-6 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest ² and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. ³ As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. ⁴ He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” ⁵ “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. ⁶ “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

Let me tell you all a story. How God will turn things around with the speed of lightning. There once was a man named Paul the Apostle. This wasn’t his name forever. Before he was Paul, he was born Saul from Tarsus.  Saul was a man who persecuted the early disciples of Jesus. He hated God, and the people who believed in him. He dedicated his life to persecuting the Jews, and others that believed in the one Almighty.

One day on his walk to bring the bound Jews from Damascus to Jerusalem, he was walking with other Pharisees (a political party that persecuted the Jews and who were self-righteous), and a bright light struck him in the face. It was the resurrected Jesus, pleading for Saul to leave his people alone and to follow him. After seeing Jesus, Saul was blind for three days. Once his sight was restored he began to preach that Jesus was the Son of God, and the Jewish Messiah. He lived the rest of his life encouraging, teaching, and leading the way of God. And this explains the name change. 

Saul of Tarsus was given a new name from God because his old ways was put behind him. Saul the Persecutor, was now Paul the Apostle. Fourteen of the twenty-seven books in the New Testament have traditionally been referenced to Paul.  

With this said Friends and Family; No task, no occurrence, no election is bigger than the power of God. He is called the Almighty for a reason. As quickly as a decision was made  to elect a president who believes in inequality and injustice, a turnaround can occur in his decision making. Pray for our authorities, for our new president, and trust in the name of Jesus. If he can turn Paul around, he can do it for the next. The point is to not worry. Have hope. Repent, Pray, Forgive, and leave the rest up to Jesus.

Be Encouraged,

Noelani