The Bible tells us that Saul breathed threats to Christ’s church.
He was filled with spite and bent on destroying the people of God.
The church feared him and scattered to avoid his wrath. Saul was like a coursing river, thrashing everything in his way.
We’re going through visions of Jesus. Moments when men beheld Christ in all his glory. These terrifying, transformative moments act as catalysts in the Bible. They inspire fear of God’s glory, reassurance of his power, and hope that He is in control.
The man formally known as Saul of Tarsus was a Pharisee of Pharisees. He was a Roman Jew, equipped with the resources and credentials to put an end to The People of the Way.
He might have done it, too, if it weren’t for divine intervention.
In Acts 9, Saul was on his way to Damascus with a license to kill Christians. His breath was ragged with rage, and his self-righteous Spirit was convinced he was marching for a holy cause.
But Jesus has a way of knocking us off our high horses, doesn’t he?
In Saul’s case, he was literally knocked off.
The Bible describes a blinding tempest of light surrounding Saul, knocking him down. From the radiant portal, a voice spoke saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4)
This voice came from Christ Himself.
Saul was floored (literally). When the vision of Jesus left, Saul was blind.
His physical blindness was a representation of his spiritual blindness.
Saul was blind to his own pride, to Christ's truth, and to the damage he was doing to God’s Kingdom.
Sometimes we need to be taken down a few pegs to acknowledge Christ’s authority in our lives.
Saul’s sight was eventually restored, and he went on to be a force of good, bringing the gospel to the known world.
When Jesus visited Paul in that radiant light, he said something profound.
With compassion in his voice, Jesus said, “It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” (Acts 24:14)
Kicking against the goads isn’t a modern term, so let’s unpack it real quick.
The phrase comes from the use of a goad, a long, sharpened stick used to prod oxen when plowing. The ox would kick against the goad when it didn't want to be jabbed again, which would only make the pain worse. The ox would eventually learn that it was better to accept the direction of the farmer than to kick against the goad.
Does this apply to you today? Have you been kicking against Christ’s calling? Have you been resisting His direction and commands?
The more we fight against God’s will, the more discomfort and dysfunction we bring upon ourselves.
Let’s let Paul’s story be an encouragement to us all to stop resisting with self-righteousness and pride.
.jpg)
