Which would you rather be - a terrorist or a peacemaker? Here we discover religious people who choose to be terrorists!
Most people in Jerusalem would have said they loved and believed in God - but the lives they lived showed they did NOT please and obey God! This was certainly true of Saul. He had gone about terrorising Christian people, and for some time “kept up his violent threats of murder against the followers of the Lord.” (Acts 9:1.)
Then, he went to Damascus in order to continue his campaign of violence there. While there he experienced a wonderful change – he became a true follower of Christ!
When he returned to Jerusalem, he tried “to join the disciples of Jesus” there! They would not believe his claim that he had become a disciple while at Damascus, “and they were all afraid of him”. (verse 26.)
A Christian there, called Barnabas “came to his help and took him to the apostles. He explained to them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road (to Damascus) and that the Lord had spoken to him. He also told them how boldly Saul had preached in the name of Jesus in Damascus.” (verse 27.)
At last, the company of Christians accepted Saul. They could see a miraculous change had taken place, and Jesus was obviously Saul’s LORD and SAVIOUR now. (Philippians 3:7-9. 2ndCorinthians 5:17.) What a change - a terrorist becomes peacemaker!
But many other religious people did not want to change. As Saul “talked and disputed with them”, showing them that they could only have peace with God through faith in Jesus as Priest (Hebrews 7:23-27.), “they tried to kill him”! (verse 28. Colossians 1:19-23.)
Here were people, who would rather be evil religious terrorists than to believe that Jesus Christ was the only Saviour! How evil and wicked they were! Saul was able to escape from them, rescued and helped by his friends in the Christian Church. (verse 30.)
“And so it was that the Church … had a time of peace. Through the help of the Holy Spirit, it was strengthened and grew in numbers, as they lived in reverence for the Lord.” (verse 31.)
Saul went to his hometown of Tarsus, where he met up with other Christians and got involved as a peacemaker there - bringing to the people the good news of peace with God through Jesus Christ alone. (Romans 5:1-2. 10:13-15.)
What does the good news that ONLY JESUS can be your Priest and Leader do to you? Does it make you feel angry, and rebellious against the message and the messenger, or does it give you peace and comfort in believing it?
True Christians will, like Saul, want to meet together with others who truly have faith in Jesus. They will want to be careful to live lives that are pleasing to God, and be eager to share the Gospel of peace with others.
Read Acts chapter 9, verses 26-31.
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