Divine Transformation according to Acts 9:1-30

There are times when we encounter people who stand in the way of God's word. We can tell them about Jesus Christ, but they don't pay attention, and some go so far as to fight God's work. In this way, some souls who have given in to evil can become zealous Christians, capable of taking God's word beyond the frontiers.

In the book of Acts, we meet Saul of Tarsus, who was first and foremost an enemy of faith in Jesus Christ. But a decisive encounter changed his life forever. It's this divine transformation that we're going to talk about.

Saul of Tarsus was a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, northwest of Syria, now Turkey. He wanted to persecute all followers of Jesus Christ until he too met the Lord. Saul had received rigorous training from Gamaliel, a doctor of the law who regarded him very highly. Saul had been a fervent defender of Judaism and had been very irritated by the appearance of Christianity. But his encounter with Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus turned his life upside down.

Saul had gone on a mission to persecute the Christians in Damascus. He had harbored a deep hatred for the disciples, in order to arrest them or have them imprisoned. But along the way, a dazzling light caused him to lose his sight. He was therefore led into town by his traveling companions, where he was unable to see for three days. It was in this situation that Saul received a vision from the Lord and understood that Jesus was truly the Son of God.

Saul's transformation took time. Saul became Paul. His conversion was not a mere formality, or a step of self-interest. His life was transformed at a fundamental level, starting with his vision and revelation of Jesus Christ. His transformation was remarkable, and above all divinely orchestrated by God. The Lord used him to bring the news of Jesus Christ to us Gentiles. Paul became the prototype of the Christian apostle, a faithful spokesman for Jesus Christ wherever he went.

God took the Church's most bitter enemy and transformed him into an apostle, so that he could be an instrument in leading millions of people from all over the world to Jesus Christ. And we today can see from Paul's story that nothing is impossible for God. While we are often faced with life's difficulties, this should give us hope and confidence to keep believing that God always works, even in the most difficult situations.

The Lord is able to change every human nature, transforming a persecutor into a worshipper of God. We can all feel God's presence in our lives, the very presence that changed Paul's life.

It's important to keep believing in God's work in our lives, no matter what happens to us. Divine transformation can manifest in our lives in very subtle, or very visible ways. We can trust that God is always working, even when we can't see His plan in the present moment.

Let us continue to trust in Him and He will use us for His work.

May the Lord bless you abundantly.

Pasteur Clémentine