Begin Againনমুনা

Damascus Road Experience The conversion of Saul on the road to Damascus has been retold many times and is symbolical of the many conversions – those who were touched by the grace of the Holy Spirit and started anew. Paul’s life was changed when he put his faith in Jesus. Remember Paul was also called Saul. Don’t be confused by the two names. In Acts 9:1-2 the followers of Christ were called people of “the Way” because Christians claim that faith in Jesus is the “only way” to salvation (Read John 14:6). Paul was a proud Jewish religious leader and did not want to admit that his religion was wrong. Saul set out on the road to Damascus with death in his heart – to persecute those who are followers of “the Way”. On the Damascus road, Saul encountered a blinding light, brighter than the noonday sun. Then he heard a voice say to him: "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" (Acts 9:4). When Saul asked who was speaking to him, the voice replied, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." (Acts 9:5-6). Ananias is not convinced that Saul could have become a believer in Jesus. In verse 11, the Lord told Ananias that seeing Saul praying would be the evidence that he has changed. Saul was blind! God humbled Saul so that he would realize how desperately he needed Jesus. When a person becomes desperate, Jesus comes near. According to Acts 9:19b-22 Saul had a 180 degree turn in his life, a radical change. This is Paul’s description of what happened to him — and to us who believe in Christ – Read 2 Corinthians 5:17. Not many people have a dramatic “Damascus Road experience” like Saul, but all of us should be able to say: “My life has changed since I came to know Jesus Christ.” Can you say that? Can you share a time when God humbled you in order to bring you close to Him? In that moment of fear, regret and enlightenment, Saul understood that Jesus was indeed the true Messiah, and that he had helped murder and imprisoned innocent people. Saul realized that despite his previous beliefs as a Pharisee, he now knew the truth about God and was obligated to obey him. In that moment Saul became truly, irrevocably, a new man. He was born again. And he chose to mark that hour of transformation by shedding the Hebrew name Saul to Paul – in order to begin again.