You're Under Arrest
Background on SAUL:
Today's reading: Acts 9:1-22. Back in 8:1-4, we were introduced to the radical Saul who was radically wrong. Saul was born and raised at Tarsus in Cilicia. Tarsus was a port city, as well as a university city. These two things would mold Paul in his childhood days. First, growing up in a bustling seaport filled with sailors and merchants from all over the world, he would learn much about the world around him. And secondly, being in a place of higher learning, Paul would absorb the Greek atmosphere and would become fluent in the Greek language all, to his unknowing, to be used by God in his missionary journeys and writing 13 epistles of the New Testament. He was born a Roman citizen. His parents were Jewish but possessed Roman citizenship. All this, plus the fact that Paul was the Hebrew of Hebrews. He was trained by Gamaliel, the 'teacher's teacher' of that day. He was a respected member of the Sanhedrin. God would soon use these three elements, that molded Paul's life, to reach the world with the Gospel. These three elements of the world's culture met in him: Roman citizenship, Greek culture, Hebrew religion. He was religiously refined but religiously lost.
Conversion of SAUL/PAUL:
Saul would soon be changed to Paul as he made his way to Damascus to arrest more Christians. But Saul would be the one put under arrest that day. As Saul wallowed on the ground, he asked two very important questions: Who are you Lord? and Lord, what do you want me to do? Key word: Lord. How do you know when someone is truly converted to Christ? Christ becomes the Lord of their life--not just Savior, but Lord and Savior of their life. Paul would later write to the Romans, "For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, [why, so] that He might be the Lord of both the dead and the living." (Rom.14:9) Jesus died, not only to be your Savior, but also your Lord. When you accepted Christ as Savior, that was the best decision you ever made, but it was the last decision you'll ever make. From now on, HE calls the shots. He is Lord! Is He the Lord of your life? Who calls the shots? You or Him? If you have truly been placed under arrest by Jesus, then He calls the shots in your life.
[Tomorrow we'll see the beginning of Paul's ministry and we'll use that background material on Saul. So be sure to re-read this for tomorrow. God bless.]
Today's reading: Acts 9:1-22. Back in 8:1-4, we were introduced to the radical Saul who was radically wrong. Saul was born and raised at Tarsus in Cilicia. Tarsus was a port city, as well as a university city. These two things would mold Paul in his childhood days. First, growing up in a bustling seaport filled with sailors and merchants from all over the world, he would learn much about the world around him. And secondly, being in a place of higher learning, Paul would absorb the Greek atmosphere and would become fluent in the Greek language all, to his unknowing, to be used by God in his missionary journeys and writing 13 epistles of the New Testament. He was born a Roman citizen. His parents were Jewish but possessed Roman citizenship. All this, plus the fact that Paul was the Hebrew of Hebrews. He was trained by Gamaliel, the 'teacher's teacher' of that day. He was a respected member of the Sanhedrin. God would soon use these three elements, that molded Paul's life, to reach the world with the Gospel. These three elements of the world's culture met in him: Roman citizenship, Greek culture, Hebrew religion. He was religiously refined but religiously lost.
Conversion of SAUL/PAUL:
Saul would soon be changed to Paul as he made his way to Damascus to arrest more Christians. But Saul would be the one put under arrest that day. As Saul wallowed on the ground, he asked two very important questions: Who are you Lord? and Lord, what do you want me to do? Key word: Lord. How do you know when someone is truly converted to Christ? Christ becomes the Lord of their life--not just Savior, but Lord and Savior of their life. Paul would later write to the Romans, "For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, [why, so] that He might be the Lord of both the dead and the living." (Rom.14:9) Jesus died, not only to be your Savior, but also your Lord. When you accepted Christ as Savior, that was the best decision you ever made, but it was the last decision you'll ever make. From now on, HE calls the shots. He is Lord! Is He the Lord of your life? Who calls the shots? You or Him? If you have truly been placed under arrest by Jesus, then He calls the shots in your life.
[Tomorrow we'll see the beginning of Paul's ministry and we'll use that background material on Saul. So be sure to re-read this for tomorrow. God bless.]
posted by Royce Hendry at
6:35 AM
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