Acts 9:20-31 | It's All About God's SonSample

Saul returned to Damascus to preach with powerful proof that Jesus was the Son of God and Messiah. This confused the Damascus Jews. (And later, the disciples.) Wasn’t this the man who came to arrest his followers? Some Jews accepted Jesus; others did not and plotted to kill Saul. Saul learned of the plot and escaped Damascus through a hole in the city wall. This was the beginning of the kind of persecution Saul would face. It would happen again in Jerusalem, and throughout the rest of his ministry.

Being a follower of God’s Son is not always the easy road. There are times it can be a struggle and painful. For some, like Saul, even your life is at risk. Jesus says people will hate you simply because you follow him. The authenticity of Saul’s new faith was tested immediately. Would he back down? Collapse under pressure? Renounce? Or soft-pedal and try to win support on all sides?

Later the disciples must have wondered: Is he really one of us? Does he really believe this? Is he willing to give his life to Christ? Suffering and opposition have a way of testing the quality of what we proclaim.

Saul knew he would be persecuted, but trusted God to walk with him through it. He could have lamented, even complained. And we might be inclined to think him justified if he did. But instead, Saul counted it a privilege: “To live is Christ. To die is gain!”

Proclaiming Jesus as God’s Son and pledging your life to him will bring you struggle and persecution too. God will walk with you through it. Like Saul, make your life all about God’s Son, and no matter what you face, count it a privilege.