Then the devotional contact today. Today' s abbreviated Bible reading begins in verse
four of facts, chapter twenty- six. The apostle Paul says my life,
for from my youth all Jews know it, who also know that I
am from the beginning. If you want to testify, I conformed to the
most rigorous sect of our religion. I lived in Pharisee and now for the
hope of God' s promise to our parents. I am called to Judgment,
a promise whose fulfillment they hope will reach our twelve tribes, constantly serving
God day and night. For this hope, O King Agrippa, I am
accused by the Jews. What an incredible thing to judge between you that God
raises the dead. I had certainly believed in my duty to do many things
against the name of Jesus of Nascis, which I also did in Jerusalem.
I imprisoned many of the saints and when they were killed, I gave my
vow and often punished them in all the synagogues, forced them to blaspheme and
greatly enraged against them I persecuted them even in the foreign cities. Busy in
this I went to Damascus with powers and in commission of the chief priests.
When at noon, O king, I went by the way, and saw
a light from heaven exceeding the brightness of the sun, which surrounded me and
those who went with me, and having fallen all of us to the ground,
did I hear a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew tongue
Saul? Saulo, why are you chasing me? It' s a tough
thing to kick your ass against the stinger. I then said who you are,
Lord and Lord said I am Jesus, whom you persist, but stand
up and stand on your feet, for for this I have appeared to You
to make you a minister and witness of the things you have seen and of
those in which I will appear to You, freeing You from your people and
from the Gentiles whom I now send you to open their eyes, that they
may turn from darkness to light and from the power of satan to God,
that they may receive by faith which is in Me the forgiveness of sins and
inheritance among the Sanctified, for which, O King Agrippa, I was not
rebellious to the heavenly vision, but first announced to those who are in Damascus
and Jerusalem and throughout the land of Judea, and to those Gentiles who repent
and convert to God by doing works worthy of repentance. Meet someone whose mind
is closed to the Gospel. This describes many people and often discourages us to
whom, despite our prayers for them, they cannot see their need for the
Savior. The way people react to the Gospel varies. There are those who
have faith quickly, while others resist. Those who reject Christ can manifest indifference
to Cortes or will be antagonistic towards those who speak of him. Sometimes we
wonder if God' s message of salvation can penetrate into those whose minds are
closed. The answer is yes and the proof is in facts from nine verses
one to eighteen. The account of Saul’ s conversion from Tarsus later,
known as the apostle Paul. Saul was a devout Pharisee who professed faith in
God, Father, but rejected Lord Jesus as God the Son with hatred for
all who followed the Messiah. Saul persecuted the believers and forced them to retract
their faith in Christ. But Saul could not rival the omnipotent God. The
Holy Spirit convinced this violent man of his sin, gave him an awareness of
his own need for salvation and revealed to him that Christ was the only savior.
Then Saul' s spiritually blind eyes were opened. Today the Holy Spirit
continues to work to place men and women under the conviction of sin. He
uses the life and testimonies of believers to reveal the truth about the Savior to
those who have a closed mind and a hard heart. If you are trying
to evangelize someone like this, do not be discouraged and keep praying for the
salvation of that person, then rest in the power of God to save