Acts 10 -- The Arrestor Gets Arrested

Saul was headed to Damascus, thrilled that he’d managed to be given permission by the high priest to arrest the heretics who were attempting to destroy the Hebrew faith (he thought).  But as my commentary noted, it was God was arrested Saul!  “Like many other rabbis, he believed that the law had to be obeyed BEFORE Messiah could come, and yet these heretics were preaching against the law, the temple, and the traditions of the fathers.”

 

That day, “Saul discovered to his surprise that Jesus of Nazareth was actually alive … If Jesus was alive, then Saul had to change his mind about Jesus and His message.  He had to repent, a difficult thing for a self-righteous Pharisee to do.  Saul also discovered that he was a lost sinner who was in danger of the judgment of God. ‘ I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.’  Saul thought he had been serving God, when in reality he had been persecuting the Messiah!  When measured by the holiness of Jesus Christ, Saul’s good works and legalistic self-righteousness looked like filthy rags.  All of his values changed.  He was a new person because he trusted Jesus Christ … He had to lose his religion before he could gain the righteousness of Christ.”

 

God gave him three days of blindness to sort out what he believed.  He didn’t eat or drink.  “He had to learn the relationship between the gospel of the grace of God and the traditional Mosaic religion that he had practiced all his life.”

 

Another man, Ananias, had a visit from the Lord in Damascus, too.  At first he feared the message – he was to go to Saul and heal him of his blindness.  My commentary said of it, “We should never be afraid to obey God’s will … When God commands, we must remember that He is working at both ends of the line and that His perfect will is always the best.”

 

Finally, I read that “we must never underestimate the value of one person brought to Christ.  Peter was ministering to thousands in Jerusalem, and Philip had a great harvest in Samaria, but Ananias was sent to only one man.”  Yet what became of that one contact!

 

Father, You’ve amazed me over the years as I’ve seen what You’ve done in and through those You’ve allowed me to disciple.  I so look forward to what You will do in and through their lives as You grow Your kingdom.  I pray that You will continue to help me and use me and that I will never be afraid to obey Your will.

 

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford