Course Correction

Following the martyrdom of Stephen, a young, ambitious Pharisee named Saul of Tarsus saw a golden opportunity for advancement and seized it.  The Jewish leadership in Jerusalem was anxious to stamp out the fledgling Christian movement and Saul knew he was just the man for the job.  Luke records it this way: “Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem” (Acts 9:1-2).

But something happened on the road between Jerusalem and Damascus, something young Saul could have never imagined.  “As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”  And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting…” (Acts 9.3-5).  Saul is confronted by the Risen Lord and from that moment on, his life would never be the same.  The persecutor of Christianity was about to become the promoter of Christianity!

Saul learned many things that day in the dust of the Damascus road.  One big lesson learned was that persecuting the followers of Jesus is the same as persecuting Him.  At another level, the Bible also teaches that to oppose Jesus is to oppose God Himself (Luke 10.16; Matthew 25.40,45).  It’s a package deal.  Saul thought he was serving God by killing and imprisoning Christians and opposing Jesus (Acts 26.9).  Instead, he discovered he was doing the very thing his revered teacher Gamaliel had warned against: fighting against God (Acts 5:38-39).  And that’s a battle no man can win.

To his credit, Saul learned his lessons, corrected his course, and realigned himself with God’s purposes.  Are we willing to do the same when the Lord confronts us?

God loves you!

Mike

The Real Deal

           “Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great; and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, “This man is what is called the Great Power of God.” And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts” (Acts 8:9–11).

Simon was a man of considerable acclaim and influence in his home town in Samaria.  His reputation had been built on his proficiency in the “magic arts.”  In the first century, the practice of “magic” ranged from mere sleight of hand or deception to channeling demonic powers.  The text doesn’t reveal Simon’s preference.  However he plied his trade, his fellow Samaritans had come heap praise on him as “the Great Power of God.” But the ministry of Philip was about to give the Samaritans a taste of real power.

“But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike. Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed” (Acts 8:12–13).

Now it was Simon’s turn to be amazed.  The magician was given an opportunity to experience the real power of God and he is impressed.  In fact, as you read on in the text, he endeavors to purchase the power or authority that Peter and John exhibit.  But the real power of God isn’t something to be merchandised.  The apostles rebuke the newly-converted Simon for his misguided efforts, calling him to repentance.

This encounter in the early church reminds me of an earlier contest of power in the book of Exodus. The power of God was pitted against the power of Pharaoh with disastrous results for Egypt.  Pharaoh’s magicians kept up for a bit but eventually admitted, “This is the finger of God” (Exodus 8.19).

 

God loves you!

Mike