Damascus, We All Have One…….
In the book of Acts Chapter 8: 1-3, we get a glimpse of Paul a/k/a Saul story, it states, “ On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.” Fast forward to Acts 9: 4-5” He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? Who are you, Lord? Saul asked. I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting, he replied.” Every believer has a story of how they met Jesus, and it is the foundation or the key that opened their second birth journey.
One of my favorite reggae artists growing up was Lady Saw. If you are familiar with her music, you know I did not have virgin ears. She is now known as Minister Marion Hall; she now shares her salvation story worldwide. She explains her experience with Christ consisted of a series of encounters until she finally allowed herself to be wooed by Christ. There is some chatter about her conversion, I wonder why it so easy for us to see someone else’s salvation as untrue? Instead of giving them the same grace, God gives to us daily. I wonder if it is because some of us remain stagnant, and change is a foreign concept. I wonder if it is because the world view is so limited and stuck, that they cannot see the evolution that Christ has caused in your life. I wonder if our own insecurities cause us to focus on the past and not the present. Mark 2: 16-17 states, “when the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners? On hearing this, Jesus said to them, it is not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners.” What an amazing God, He recognizes where we are and comes to meet us there. He introduces Himself not through hell and damnation but through love; in a way that only God can. God is fully aware of what each of His children needs to evoke change in our lives. Whether it is sitting down for dinner or falling off a horse, He is gracious enough to speak to us where we are. God knows His children and is fully aware of the paths we have taken in our lives that keep us separated from Him. In the midst of all of that, He stands at the kingdom door, inviting us to join Him in kingdom living. Christ wants us to remember that He came to sit and eat with sinners so that we will understand as it states in John 14-6,” Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This week I challenge you to share your salvation story. It may change a life.