shamed: Can’t Believe My Eyes!
‘For here is the way God so loved the world—He gave His only unique Son as a gift.’ (John 3:16a, TPT)
April 27th, 2022
FOOL-ish, i.e. lacking judgement or sense; ill-considered; unwise; preposterous; thoughtless; reckless; absurd; idiotic.
1 Corinthians 1:18: For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.’ (NKJV)
Acts 9:17-19a, ‘Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, Who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.’ (NIV)
How fool-ish for Saul to persecute Christians, disciples of Jesus! But we don’t persecute something unless we are fearful of or don’t understand the power behind it, right? And think about the power and urgency within the Holy Spirit as He sought Saul (also known as Paul), chased after him, pursued Paul (also known as Saul), hunted him down on a dirt road, blinding him until He got his attention. I think Paul would say it worked. It would have then been even more fool-ishness to continue pounding the pavement, persecuting what he did not know or understand, but Saul (also known as Paul) at once came to his senses. What a change of heart! And I imagine the shame that would have wanted nothing more than to wrap itself around him, squeezing the change in him, killing the conviction that had come over him, strangling the assurance within him.
Paul would go on to write almost two-thirds of the New Testament, and some consider he was the First Missionary; he would lead many lost souls to Jesus with his powerful story of rescue and deliverance. He trained up pastors and was bravely bold to speak God’s truth to churches that were wandering astray, so bold, many of his letters he wrote to churches and to individuals, which would eventually become Books in the New Testament, were written from prison. Paul’s transformative love for his Savior would fan an eternal flame and cause a holy fire to burn. His ministry would change the course of Christianity forever. It also reminds me of the goodness of God’s grace and forgiveness. If God can forgive someone who persecuted the very people He gave His Son Jesus to come to die for—especially at a time when the Resurrection was still fresh on people’s minds, was the word on everyone’s tongue—than surely He can forgive me too. If an atheist like Saul can radically be remade and immediately morph into Paul, the man of God he became, then truly there is hope for me in all my wayward, shameful and fool-ish ways.
I wonder what ideas traveled through Paul’s mind as he went from church to church, island to island, prison to prison, preaching the Good News of the Gospel. Did he ever look in a mirror in disbelief at who stared back at him? Did he gulp when he thought of those he had annihilated before he was redeemed? Isn’t it amazing that the shame he felt of which he was very transparent concerning didn’t shackle him to those he persecuted, didn’t cause him to remain buried beneath the lies of the enemy, tethered to guilt that wouldn’t let him go?!
Paul made His-Story. The words that fell from his lips would be the encouragements often on our lips today as well. 2 Corinthians 12:10, ‘That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.’ 2 Corinthians 5:7, ‘We walk by faith, not by sight.’ Romans 8:31, ‘If God is for us, who can be against us?’ Paul would later pen Philippians 4:12-13, ‘I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through Him Who gives me strength.’ This would become an anthem to so many believers worldwide and give us hope that the best is yet to come. From prison to praise! What a testimony!
Ephesians 3:20, ‘Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for His miraculous power constantly energizes you.’ (TPT)
John 3:16b, ‘SOW NOW: whoever believes in Him will never perish, but experience everlasting life.’ (TPT)
