It is easy to get of course even with the best of intentions

Acts 9:1 -26

(I apologize that this did not get posted yesterday, a glitch on my part)

Saul (soon to be Paul) was a murderer, persecutor, and terrorist to Christians everywhere. He did his job with a vengeance. Gamaliel the best teacher in all of Israel had trained him in the law. He had a passion for what was right or at least what he thought was right. He sent many to their deaths and many more to prison all for the purpose of wiping out heresy. Saul had lots of passion but very little understanding.

His teacher Gamaliel had almost defended Christianity when the disciples were brought before the Sanhedrin. Gamaliel was the one who challenged the rulers that if this is of God you may find yourselves fighting God. Saul made a very common mistake; he got caught up in his strength, his own righteousness and did not keep his heart soft for the Lord.

God saw Saul’s hearts desire to do what was right even. I thank the Lord that He is still that way with me. I am grateful that He looks at our heart motivations more than the outcome of our actions. A heart desiring to follow after Him completely will be rewarded with finding Him. Saul was ferociously zealous for the things of God he simply needed to be to be “knocked off of his high horse” a bit to remember why he was doing what he was doing! Saul wanted to protect the faith. To make sure righteousness remained. The problem you can’t accomplish godly things through fleshly actions or motives. God got his attention and turned him around to the place Saul really wanted to be.

I believe Saul really loved God and wanted to serve Him completely. The problem was that he didn’t spend the time listening to God. Part of our challenge to growing in the faith is maintaining our strengths but relying on the Lord. If we trust and depend on our strengths without maintaining our time with the Lord we end up frustrated, cynical, angry, and wounded, wondering why God is blessing what we are doing. It is so easy to become a “Saul” especially when you have a “Paul” heart. Saul loved God, he simply lost relationship with him because he got caught in his own agenda rather than maintaining his relationship with the Lord.

Acts 2:42 tells us how to stay focused basically it says this pray, stay in the Word, and stay as an active member of a body of believers. These things keep us on course and give us all that we need