ACTS 22:6-10 – As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me. And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’”
THEME OF THE DAY: BE CAREFUL HOW WE TREAT GOD’S PEOPLE. Today’s scripture is the second of three accounts of the Apostle Paul publicly sharing his conversion story when Jesus apprehended him on the Damascus Road. We likely are familiar with this riveting story of God’s relentless and pursuing love. But there is something else extremely important for us to seriously consider. It is found in the statement of the Lord Jesus, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
How was Saul persecuting Jesus? Christ was in heaven. Saul was not. He did not have direct physical access to reap any form of persecution upon Jesus, yet the Lord of glory charged Saul with doing so. It is not difficult to determine the meaning of our Lord’s indictment. As Saul was persecuting, harming, and wreaking havoc among the Lord’s people, Jesus said, “You are doing so to me.” This is a great time to think through the seriousness of what Jesus is saying, not to Saul, but to us.
The way we treat other Christians is a direct reflection on how we treat and think of Christ. Sadly, the landscape is full of Christian relationships marked by cruel treatment, gossip, slander, other forms of verbal abuse, and left unreconciled. And Christians who are guilty of such treatment need not wonder why they have no joy, peace, consistency in the Word, prayer, and little, if any, delight in church and the fellowship of God’s people. The Lord does not take lightly the treatment of His children by His children. Should we be hurtful, neglectful in sacrificial acts of love, harbor bitterness, criticalness, and fail to forgive and restore, we should expect the Lord’s heavy hand of discipline in our lives. One form of such discipline is the loss of joy, peace, sense of His Presence and soon, if those relationships are not fixed, a backslidden condition emerges.
The emphasis through the New Testament in our relationships with other Christians is love (John 13:34-35; 1 Peter 4:4), encouragement (Hebrews 3:13), and forgiveness (Ephesian 4:31-32). The over fifty one another commands are the road maps guiding and protecting us in our relationships with one another. How are we doing in living them out daily?
As we conclude today’s nugget, here are two things to do to help us in our treatment of all members of God’s family. First, before we say something, do something, or act upon something toward another Christian, remember who we are dealing with – royalty; a son or daughter of the King of Kings. Handle them accordingly. Next, remember how Jesus always treats us and He commands us to do likewise to all people, especially His. Keeping these before our hearts and minds will help us maintain unity, not bring a blemish on the testimony of Christ’s gospel in the world, and keep the heavy rod of God’s correction in our lives.
PRAYER: “Father, forgive me when I mistreat Your people in word or action.”
QUOTE: “How we treat other Christians says much about our closeness to Jesus.”
Because of Him,
Pastor Jim