The Healing Jesus: An Advent Devotional to Encourage Anybody and EverybodySample

PAUL: THE ONE WHO WAS SENT OUT

Please call me the Apostle Paul. Some people have called me a disciple, but I am not fit to be put in that category. You see, I had many chances to be one of the followers of Jesus. I began hearing rumblings about him right as I turned thirty, but at that point, I had gotten precisely where I had wanted to be in my career. My education was intense and strict, like my faith. There was no time for foolishness. I looked down on others who dropped out of school or didn't know the law as well as I did.

I studied the teachings of the law obsessively and to become a teacher myself. I wanted to be the best of the best. I policed others and ensured they were faithful to the law of Moses.

So when this Jesus came along, a guy my age, I looked down on him. Yes, you can't deny that he was a great teacher. But did he practice the law like me and my fellow Pharisees did? Not at all. Word got around that he didn't respect the Sabbath and would heal people instead of following strict orders. He even called Pharisees hypocrites. That hurt because he said what I felt, which freaked me out. I had never told anyone that deep down. I did feel like a fake and a phony. To stuff those feelings, I lashed out at others, determined to work even harder so I would finally feel OK.

I was obsessed with being right and punishing those who were not. I took this so far that I began imprisoning Christians. When Jesus confronted me, it took blindness to knock me off my feet and get me to listen. How grateful I am for that experience! Jesus saved me from myself.

While I don't want to be called a disciple, I would be honored if you called me an apostle. Apostles are those called by Jesus and sent out to spread the gospel. I may have missed my opportunity to meet Jesus, but He didn't give up on me and won't give up on you.

Jesus is healing lives, even when you run from him.

Questions for Talk it Over:

1. What was it that stopped Paul from persecuting Christians?

2. When was a time you ran from Jesus?

3. How have you seen him coming after you time and time again?