Acts 9:1-6 NIV
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
Our normal instinct when someone let’s us down or betrays our trust is often to drop them or be wary of them in the future. As a Liverpool fan, I have seen a dramatic example of this coming out of the Champions League final, which Liverpool lost due to two mistakes made by Louis Karius, our goalkeeper. Immediately the call went out to get a replacement and give up on him (although I’m glad to say others were more gracious than this). Here God, who, remember from yesterday, sees what people do to his followers as being done to himself, has been persecuted by Saul. And yet, having confronted him on the Damascus Road, and Saul announcing him as Lord, not just forgives him, but immediately declares that he has work for him to do.
Lord, teach me to be quick to say sorry, generous in my forgiveness, and eager to work for you.
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