Pam Padgett ... teacher
When Paul went to Damascus he planned to find those believing in Jesus and take them bound to Jerusalem.
Acts 9:1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter
against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 And
desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found
any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them
bound unto Jerusalem.
But Paul was greatly changed when he heard Jesus speak to him. When Jesus revealed Himself to him, Paul submitted himself, calling Jesus "Lord" and asking what He
would have him do. Paul was changed from seeking to destroy those who
believed in Jesus, to believing in Jesus himself and acknowledged Jesus
as his Lord, the one who would direct him in what to do, the one he would obey. And Paul started to obey what Jesus told him right away, going into Damascus.
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined
round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the earth, and
heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5
And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou
persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. 7
And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice,
but seeing no man. 8 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. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither
did eat nor drink.
Jesus appeared to Ananias in a vision and sent him to go to Paul and put
his hands on Paul so that he would receive his sight, and be filled with
the Holy Ghost. When Paul could see again, he arose and was baptized.
And he began to preach that Jesus is the Son of God in the synagogues,
amazing those who heard him since they knew Paul had previously
destroyed those who believed in Jesus. Paul had been changed.
Acts 9:17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house;
and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus,
that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that
thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 18
And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he
received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. 19 And when he
had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with
the disciples which were at Damascus. 20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that
destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither
for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?
22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews
which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.
While reading this, I thought of how we, also, are changed when God opens our ears to hear Jesus, the Word, and we
submit ourselves to Him. We were changed when we were first born again,
and we are changed each time we
hear a word from God brought to us by the Holy Spirit and we obey that word, allowing that word to
direct us, ruling in our lives. What we do and what
we think is
changed as we are conformed to Jesus, the Word of God.
2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a
glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory
to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.