October 18, 2015:  SOAP #2145:

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 9:1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. [Then 10 verses later we read:] 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ. 23 After many days had gone by, the Jews conspired to kill him,

Observation:   What an amazing change.  He had been emotionally, physically, and intellectually committed to destroying what he saw as a threat to Judaism.  His encounter with the Lord on the road to Damascus was so powerful that he became emotionally, physically, and intellectually committed to Jesus as his Lord and Savior!  He became such an effective preacher that the Jews looked for a way to kill him!

Application:  The One who appeared to Saul, is my Lord.  He deserves my commitment too.

Prayer:   Lord, it is not just for people we read about in the pages of the Bible to be committed to you.  You, Who never change, are worthy of my wholehearted commitment too!     Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!