Imagine

“As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.  He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”         -Acts 10:3-6

In my men’s Bible study we are talking about the disciples travel and how the Jesus story began to reach so many people outside of Jerusalem.  For the first time people all over the place began to know about Jesus and by the thousands were yielding their hearts to Him.  One of those people who yielded to Jesus was Saul, who we come to know as Paul.  As Saul he was a violent, murderous, Christian-hating maniac.  But while he was traveling to Damascus, in an effort to put Christians in prison or to death, Jesus interrupted him and redirected his path.  Saul later became known as Paul.  He also became known as one of the most important figures of that time, preaching the gospel of Christ and leading unknown numbers of Jews and Gentiles to know the love of Jesus.  At 3:28 a.m. this morning, I woke up and sat straight up out of bed.  I didn’t know why, at first, but then I heard God speak to my heart (no, not in an audible voice).  I have written before about how God will use the “average Joe” for His glory.  Saul was not an average Joe but a mighty, powerful man who used his power to persecute Christians.  But then God redirected him and look what he did!  I felt that God was asking me why I am not praying for Him to redirect the paths of others? Let me explain a little better.  See, if you are like me, you are probably not a big fan of the extremism and the persecution of Christians that is taking place around the world.  Heck, it’s happening more and more right in our own back yards!  But those people that are leading the fight against Christians are no different than Saul was.  Is it impossible that God could redirect their paths as well?  I don’t have to remind you that “all things are made possible through Jesus”.  So I don’t mind sharing with you that my prayers this morning were a little different than normal.  I seem to have forgotten that as a Christian, it is my responsibility to not just be angered by what I see on the news or read in the paper about the way our world is turning it’s back on God, but I have to pray for those people who are leading the persecution.  Imagine how different the day if the modern day “Sauls” of the world had their paths redirected.  Imagine how different the day if Christians all over the world began to pray for that very thing.  Imagine, then do.  Happy Weekend!