Saul’s Conversion:  Acts 9
1Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2and 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. 3As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4He 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.
6“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

I was thinking about this today as I drove home from our basketball game….and it still amazes me.

This man, Paul, is a Roman citizen.  He is educated in the greatest situation with the most reputable religious scholar.  He is honored and revered by the Jews and yet has nothing to fear from the Roman iron fist because of his citizenship.  He is rich, he is liked, he is respected, he is literally “LIVING THE DREAM”.

And on his way in to tell others that they are wrong…..He comes to the realization that he is the one who is, in fact, wrong.  How does he find out?  He has an encounter with Jesus.

So what does he do?  He throws everything he has IN THE TRASH and becomes a follower of what he calls “The Way”…..a follower of:  Jesus.

This is all the testimony I need to hear!  This guy who wrote so many New Testament Books gives up everything so that he can be:

Beaten

Imprisoned

Shipwrecked

Stoned

Mocked

Ridiculed

This must have been an INCREDIBLE ENCOUNTER!!  I want that ENCOUNTER!

So Lord….come meet with me today….come meet with me and change my heart that I would consider all other things, well, trash, compared to what I can receive from you.

Change me and transform me.  Let Your Spirit convict me and revive me.  Make me one of your servants.

For You, and You alone, Jesus, hold the keys to eternal life.

Amen.  Amen.  And Amen.