From the Rev. Deacon Larry Barnhill, Reflecion for 22 Feb. 2014 Todays Thought~ Oneness with Christ Today’s thought comes out of the story of Saul/Paul’s conversion in Acts 9. This encounter plays a major part in the shifting of Saul’s mindset and his becoming the great missionary we know as St. Paul. This brief encounter with the risen Lord would also play a major role in the theology and writings of Paul. The verse I really want to zoom in on is verse 4. In this verse Jesus says “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” Now we have to remember that Saul was going to Damascus with the explicit intent of arresting as many followers of the way, persecuting them, and bringing them back to Jerusalem to face the Sanhedrin. Saul thought, as did most of the Sanhedrin, that be persecuting the followers of Jesus that they were protecting, honoring, and serving God. They did not grasp the concept that the Spirit of God and that the Spirit of the Christ could reside in an individual man. Therefore Saul in his exuberance felt that he was not hurting God, but was only hurting those that were of “The Way.” When Jesus asked why Saul was persecuting him, it through Saul for a loop, especially when Jesus says “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.” Saul was not able to make the connection that Christ lives in the hearts of those who have given their lives to Him. Saul would not begin to make this connection until his eyes were opened three days later. So how does this affect or apply to us today? Sadly most of the world, including many Christians, go about like Saul with eyes closed mistakenly believing that they are actually working for God and protecting what he wants, when in fact they are actually persecuting the Christ that lives in those they are attacking. Christ commands that we are to spread His message, to baptize, and to teach all to obey what he commanded of us. One of those commands was to love our neighbor as our self. Another was to love one another as Christ so loved the church. Therefore if we are to follow in the example of Christ, how can we go about persecuting others? If we are working to destroy and bring down those that have Christ in them, do we truly have the spirit of Christ living in us? Therefore as you go about things today, take the time to ask and see if how you are viewed by others is in a light that seeks to build up the body, or are you like the Parasitical Saul and only seeking to persecute what you feel is not of your image and understanding of God?
Posted on: Sat, 22 Feb 2014 12:38:04 +0000
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