Life Lessons with Dr. Steve Schell
Religion & Spirituality:Christianity
Three days after wanting to kill the disciples of Jesus Christ, Paul is a completely different man. Sure, he has a lot to learn, and almost nobody trusts him yet. When he tries to meet with other believers they suspect he’s just pretending so he can gather names and come back later with the police. But he is different. Totally different. And for the next three decades he will live a life that is completely sold out to Jesus.
As we marvel at the transformation of this man we need to ask ourselves what it was that changed him. Was what happened a special miracle because Jesus knew Paul would make a great apostle, or is this level of profound change available to anyone? Was he a unique work of God or just the most prominent example of someone whose life Jesus turned around?
Before we investigate what changed Paul, let’s notice what didn’t. No one out-debated this brilliant Pharisee or theologically convinced him that Isaiah 53 speaks of a suffering Messiah. He didn’t wake up one morning and decide he needed to be a nicer, friendlier person, and chart a self-improvement program. What changed him was he met the resurrected Jesus Christ. He didn’t gradually get better and then decide to investigate the truth about this Jesus of Nazareth. Walking toward Damascus he was worse than ever. Luke uses wording here that implies that he had, by this point in time, fallen under demonic influence and was functioning at an unnatural level of anger. He was totally committed to killing all of Jesus’ followers, and his ultimate goal was to kill Jesus Himself…again.
83 - Spiritual Conversations - b
82 - Spiritual Conversations - a
81 - Paul's Hope
80 - The Gift of Truth
79 - Courageous Decisions
78 - Hearing Both Sides
77 - God's Overrulling Hand
76 - Learning To Listen
75 - Love Without Borders
74 - Repairing His Reputation
73 - Legalism or Liberty
72 - A Lonely Obedience
71 - Repentance and Faith
70 - Walk With Me
69 - Paul's Offering
68 - Dangerous Times
67 - Distracted
66 - The Real World
65 - Ministering God's Power
64 - Teaching the Word
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