James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

 

The first thing God did for Saul was to humble him. As we have been studying, Saul was the champion of the persecutors. He was the most educated man on earth at the time and was being groomed to be the head of the Jewish hierarchy. Also, he had persecuted and arrested more believers than anyone and he took great pride in all his accomplishments. In short, Saul was a very prideful man.

 

He was on his way to Damascus to lead more believers to prison or even death but God quickly changed his plans. Instead, Saul found himself blind and being led into Damascus by the hand. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. (Acts 9:8) All his pride was not gone. He was helpless and totally humble. His hatred for Jesus and believers was no more. Saul was a totally changed man!

 

God could have stricken Saul dead on the Road to Damascus, but He didn’t. God had a Plan for his life and the first step was not to kill him, but to humble him and teach him a lesson.

 

Saul was a student of the Law but in a very short period of time, Jesus taught him that the Law only results in death while faith in Jesus Christ brings life. God is Love and it is His Will that everyone be saved. Saul knew God could have struck him dead on the road for all that he had done to persecute Jesus and the believers. But He didn’t because He desires for all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the Truth. (1 Timothy 2:4)

 

I am reminded of Jesus’ Parable of the Lost Sheep. What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!” I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in Heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. (Luke 15:7-10)

 

Saul was the lost sheep; wild and head-strong. He was lost and off doing awful things. But Jesus found him, spoke to him, and humbled him. The lost sheep was found. He had learned a powerful lesson and the Shepherd had great plans for him.

 

As James, the half-brother of Jesus, wrote: Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord,

 

and He will lift you up. and……….turn the tide……..in your world.

 

Without Him, I can do nothing.         Doreen

 

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