Acts 9:20-31
English
Standard Version (ESV)
23 When many days had passed, the Jews[a] plotted to
kill him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were
watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, 25 but
his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the
wall,[b] lowering
him in a basket.
26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the
disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he
was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the
apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke
to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 So
he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the
Lord. 29 And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists.[c] But they
were seeking to kill him. 30 And when the brothers learned
this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria
had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in
the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.
(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+9%3A20-31&version=ESV)
Saul’s
life changed forever on that road to Damascus.
He changed from a Jew persecuting the Christians to a Jew joining
them. The Christians were skeptical of
him, as they should have been, because of his past actions. Yet, there were those who witnessed his
dramatic change in lifestyle and encouraged the church to trust that his life
was changed. The Christians trusted and
believed in the work of the Holy Spirit and the saving grace of the Father so
much that they took Saul in under their care.
Because of the faithfulness of both Saul and the other Christian
brothers the church grew and notably they were at peace. Notice, they walked in the “fear of the Lord”
and their comfort came from the Holy Spirit.
Because of their faithfulness the church grew.
Let’s
put that in the context of the church today.
I often wonder how much fear we have of the Lord. So often we hear how loving and forgiving our
Lord is that we forget that we should fear Him.
We sing songs about His love for us but we forget that we are to love
Him. We go about our everyday business
and maybe remember to thank Him at mealtime and yet we expect for Him to
provide a meal for us. Yet, how often do
we fear Him? How often do we remember we
are here for Him, not the other way around?
When
struggles come our way do we rely on the Holy Spirit to guide us through
it? When a church member is persecuted
or struggles do we just assume that they must have deserved it? If Saul were to come into our church today,
one that persecuted Christians, and some of “his kind” came after him to kill
him, would we protect him at the risk of our own lives or would we just decide
that he deserved it? I think the church
does this all the time. We are quick to
bring people into the fold, sometimes not being skeptical at all. Yet, when trouble comes, we do not rely on
the Holy Spirit for comfort, we shy away and maybe even say, “Well that doesn’t
surprise me, given their history?”
Why
are our churches not growing? Why are
their struggles among us? We tend to say
that it is just the devil at work. I
have to wonder if it is because we are not at work. The Early church had every opportunity to
blame the devil but yet they chose to proclaim the Gospel. Are we proclaiming he Gospel? Are we praying for strength to overcome? Or, are we merely relying on ourselves and
not seeking the comfort of the Holy Spirit and the Power of the Father?
As
you seek Him today, ask yourself, “Do I fear Him?” “Do I love Him?” Do I rely
on the Holy Spirit or do I rely on myself and my feelings?”
Seeking
Him with all my heart,
Sheila
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