Violent Love

In Acts chapter 27, we find Paul, a former zealot for God and against Christ-followers, being accused. Accused of being a troublemaker, stirrer-up of riots, ringleader of a cult, desecrator of the Temple. A Jew turned Christ-follower himself after an unlikely encounter and a blinding light.  Now facing trial. Imprisonment. The same he had doled out for others a few chapters earlier in Acts. Now defending his newfound beliefs. His newfound faith. He admitted his guilt. He was guilty of following the Way (the Truth and the Life). He was guilty of believing in the resurrection of the dead. Of believing that Christ was who He claimed to be and that He did what He said He would do. Of believing Jesus was the Son of God and that He died, was buried in a tomb, and was alive again. Two more years in prison. Trial again. The accusations made against him having to do with religion; that Paul insisted a dead man named Jesus, was now alive. As Paul recounted his own encounter with Jesus, he related as one who was educated and textbook savvy. One who knew the Law. One who was zealous. A man of deep god-fearing conviction. He believed in the depths of his heart that he was doing the right thing. He hunted. Violently chased. Punished Christ-followers to get them to curse Jesus. Condemned them to death. 


Until he met Jesus on a dusty road. On his way to complete a well-intentioned mission, he found himself being questioned by the One whom he had questioned. Jesus hunted. Violently chased. Forgave. Chose. In a moment. An instant. In a flash of light. Paul was blind, but then he could see.  Full of sight and vision. Paul stopped cursing Jesus and started proclaiming Jesus. 


Have you considered the road on which you are traveling? Is it dusty and leading to death? Are you ready for an encounter that will drop you to your knees and raise you to a new life?  Jesus violently goes after those whom He loves. He died a violent death to give us new life. New sight. New vision. New hope. Just as with Paul, He calls us by name. All we need to do is respond.  

Signed, Just a (Redeemed) Sojourner from Egypt