Colossians 3:10 CEV
Acts 9:1-9 ESV
Acts 22:3-5 ESV
Acts 26:15-18 ESV
Colossians 3:9-11 The Message
Colossians 1:9 ESV
I often wonder what it was like in the First Century in the Middle East when newly established churches would receive a letter from an apostle, in this case from the Apostle Paul.
Each new member WAS new to the faith.
They did not have a history of the faith.
The new members in Christ didn’t have grandparents who were believers, let alone great grandparents who followed Jesus.
I knew nearly all of my people were people of faith. All of my great-grandparents and grandparents were people of faith. My parents were (are) people of faith.
It’s difficult for me to understand what it would have been like to not have a history of faith in a family.
Of course, what they did have that we do not have are Apostles and others who walked with Jesus. While Paul did not walk with Jesus prior to the crucifixion, Jesus appeared to him on the Road to Damascus.
Paul KNEW what it was like to realize his life was suddenly forever changed.
When Paul wrote to the church in Colossae he told them in Colossians 3:10, “Each of you is now a new person. You are becoming more and more like your Creator, and you will understand him better.”
Paul was raised to become a Hebrew Scholar. He was educated and
had studied under the famous Hebrew scholar Gamaliel. Paul had his life all mapped out.
Then one day as he was traveling on the road to Damascus from Acts 9:1-2 we learn,
“But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.“
Paul had a plan when he went to see the Hebrew High Priest. The letters he asked for were letters requesting the arrest of people who were followers of Jesus (The Way). That was required because the Hebrew Sanhedrin had religious jurisdiction over all who follow Judaism (or were Jewish).
Paul planned to find Jews who professed to be people of the Way (followers of Jesus of Nazareth), arrest them no take them in chains to Jerusalem.
But…God had another plan.
We know from Acts 9:3-9, “Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.”
We have to remember that Paul did NOT believe in Jesus. He did NOT believe hearing from Jesus was possible. What happened to Paul did NOT happen because he believed.
I don’t know about you, but I have been told that if I ask God will answer. We see clearly that even though Paul did not believe, God/Jesus clearly spoke to him on the Road to Damascus.
Later Paul told his story in Acts 22:3-5, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day. I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.”
Later when Paul was arrested and sent before King Agrippa we learn in Acts 26:15-18 of his words regarding his response to the light that appeared to him on the Road to Damascus, “And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’”
We know because of Paul’s experience on the Road to Damascus he now understood new life in Christ.
In Colossians 3:9-11 Paul wrote to the new converts, “Don’t lie to one another. You’re done with that old life. It’s like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you’ve stripped off and put in the fire. Now you’re dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ.”
It seems difficult to comprehend the complexity of Paul’s words he wrote to the church in Colossae. That’s because even if we were not raised in a family of believers in Jesus we know people who were…it’s not a new “thing”.
In the First Century it WAS new. Everything was new. There were new believers everywhere. They didn’t have a family of faith and adults were not raised in the faith as children.
We know from Colossians 1:9 that “from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.”
Paul knew the new new needed to be emersed in prayer.
The new believers were important to Paul and they were important to God. As always God knew exactly what was needed and God called Paul to provide wisdom and to defend the Gospel message in the early church.
Spiritual Practice: Wisdom
In James 1:5 we are promised wisdom. That’s a promise you can count on! If you are struggling with something in particular ask God to show you how to proceed.
In God, Deborah
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