"But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:"
I am finally at one of my favorite parts of the New Testaments the story of Saul who later becomes Paul. He was an enemy to the early saints. He took part in the stoning of Stephen, he captured early saints that spoke of Christ and took them to Jerusalem to be killed. The early saint truly feared the man. I'm sure they must have prayed to the Lord for relief from his persecutions.
How does the Lord solve this problem? He converts them. Saul had such a powerful witness of Christ he could not deny it. This is similar to Alma the Younger and the sons of Mosiah conversion in the Book of Mormon. There is just so much faith here. Faith from the saints to be delivered, faith for them to trust Saul after his conversion. This verse is the Lord speaking to Ananias to go to Saul and restore his sight. The Lords work will not be stopped. He knows perfectly how to fight our battles. This reminds me all the more how we need to love our enemies and pray for them that despitefully use us. Then have faith that the Lords ways are not our ways.
One of the reason Saul is later able to preach the gospel so powerfully is because he knows to fear God more than man. He knows how awful man can be, he was that man. Now he knows how we will fear and tremble before the Lord if we fight against his will. Even the worst of men can be redeemed and forgiven.
Day 16: Tami Fitzgerald Harris
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