Prisoner Like Paul

Recently I spoke with a fellow Christian, who admittedly made a terrible and sinful mistake. As we spoke, the regret, Godly repentance and sorrow was evident in their face as well as their voice. I shared with them how I had made a similar mistake some years ago. Openly I admitted to them that, for me, the hardest part of “getting back right with the Lord” was forgiving myself. This conversation made me think about the life of Christianity. I thought about how often when we make mistakes, we ask God to forgive us and when we ask sincerely He forgives us immediately. However, sometimes we remain in sorrow or wallow in our errors because we have neglected to forgive ourselves. As I began to pray and think on another article for On the Rocks Arrest, I heard the title “Prisoner like Paul.” I started researching God’s word to find out more about Paul. I discovered that there are a lot of things about Paul we can all relate to and learn from. Acts 8:1 reveals how Paul “made havoc” of the church. You may say, “I can’t relate to that!” “I have never caused any trouble at church.” But I say if you speak negatively or contrary to God’s word that is just what you are doing. You may not be causing physical havoc like Paul, but the word havoc is synonymous with destruction. Stop and ask yourself, have you ever been destructive with your words concerning the church? Teenagers, have you ever been destructive at home or school whether physically, mentally or emotionally? Anyone out there ever found yourself having no regard for authority like Paul did in his early days? To me, that makes you a creator of havoc. At this point in his life, Paul was a prisoner to havoc. Acts 9:1 tells us how Paul spoke of threats and murders against people of the Lord. I liken this to the murderous way in which we often use our tongues against one another. I know I have been guilty of this in the past. Paul was a prisoner to his own evil words and deeds. Here’s where things started to change for Paul. As he traveled to Damascus, Paul had nothing except havoc and murder on his mind. On that trip he was unexpectedly visited by Jesus. (You see when they say “Jesus will meet you where you are.” It is not just a cliché.) There was Paul, determined to do evil and suddenly Jesus appears questioning him, letting him know God sees all. Paul of course was taken aback and very frightened. The Bible says he “trembled” in the presence of Jesus. Though he was, what I call “a straight up sinner”; Jesus saw how Paul could be used in God’s Kingdom if he was converted. There are so many people out there who have a “heart to hustle.” You can turn a dime into a dollar in less than five minutes. You believe in your skills and you use them for selfish gain. Did you ever stop to think, that if you used your intelligence legally and for the Lord, how much more you could obtain? Are you a prisoner to your hustle? After speaking with Jesus according to Acts 9:8-9 Paul was stuck blind for three days. During this time he didn’t eat or drink. Now he was a prisoner to pain and suffering. The Bible doesn’t tell us why Paul didn’t eat. I wonder if he was deeply contemplating what he had experienced with Jesus. Or if he was wallowing in the fact that he no longer had his sight? Ever been a prisoner to your sickness or physical situations? Have you ever been blinded by your evil doings? Can you see that Jesus wants to use you even though have not always done what’s right? Can you see that He loves you regardless of your past? Are you aware of the fact that if you live for Him things can and will get better? This next part of the story is my favorite. In Acts 9:10-19 it tells us how Jesus spoke to a disciple named Ananias. He instructed Ananias to find Paul and restore his sight. Ananias quickly responded. (my version) “Hold up, you mean Paul, the same Paul that’s been murdering folks at the church?” “Why in the world do you want me to heal him?” This proves God is not like man. A man (woman) will immediately identify another man (woman) by their past mistakes. God sees the heart. Church folk, how many times have you turned your nose up at a babe who has fallen? How many times have you given up on a fellow Christian because they made a mistake one to many times for YOUR liking? Jesus doesn’t do this, He forgives seventy times seven. (Matt 18:21-22) After receiving his sight Paul is totally converted to Jesus Christ and he never turned back. He preached the gospel all over the land. He even preached to those he had once persecuted. I believed that had to take self forgiveness. It must have been challenging to preach to those you once threatened to kill. Paul had to have been walking in total faith and submission to God. He didn’t have time to worry about what people were thinking about him or his past. He certainly didn’t have time to hold himself back with thoughts of insecurity or self doubt. He was on a “God-mission.” Later Paul was unjustly imprisoned but he didn’t allow this to make him leave the Lord. He spent the majority of his prison time writing letters to different people and churches to be a blessing to them. So although he was a literal prisoner at this time, he was a spiritual prisoner as well. He was captured by God’s undying love and he was handcuffed by his determination to be a help to God’s people. So are you a prisoner like Paul? Or are you just a prisoner to sin and daily self gratification? What is more important to you than God? Think about it. Published in "On the Rocks Arrest"