Altered Mission

1 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”

Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.[a] It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”

6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”

Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
Acts 9:1-6 (NKJV)

He was a terror to anyone that stood for the truth and the gospel. Hounding, binding, harrassing, boxing anyone who dare at that time to submission (just like dictators in our day). To him, he just felt and thought he was on the right track and doing a great calling, but its impossible to kick against the goads, particularly when the main subject matter borders on Kingdom business and the Creator Himself. The Damascus Road encounter changed the course of the live of a serial killer, a tormentor and one that would not even qualify to be a saved person by today's standard. One encounter changed it all.

This same man went ahead to be one of the renowned Apostles recorded in the New testament. What can the Creator not do? Know of any unsaved, tormentor, serial killer, murderer, etc today? Let us collectively pray for the Damascus encounter for these, that the best in them may come forth and the entire body be fully blessed. His mission to kill changed to a mission to save. This can only be the Lord's doing, not man.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi