“1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest 2 and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. 4 Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

5 “Who are You, Lord?” he said.

“I am Jesus, the One you are persecuting,” He replied. 6 “But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the sound but seeing no one. 8 Then Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. So they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. 9 He was unable to see for three days and did not eat or drink.”

Acts 9:1-9

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This account is our constant reminder to make sure we never write anyone off from the redeeming work of Christ.  Saul is so easy to dislike, so easy to get angry with, and that’s the default response to someone who is working directly against your way of life and what you hope in and trust. But even with Saul, we see God reaching in and changing things. Most of us, we love seeing God do this in our lives and in the lives of people that we care about, but there are certain people, maybe certain groups, that we harbor such a strong dislike against that we are more concerned for God’s justice to be done rather than see them experience God’s grace, mercy and love. 

Jonah, the Old Testament prophet, didn’t want God to help the people of Nineveh, he wanted to see the fire and brimstone start falling and see the wrath of God come down on them. Doubtless there were those who felt that way about Saul, and surely there are people that we see in the same way today. Terror groups like ISIS, for example, are very easy to dislike, hate and wish harm & judgment against. 

But where are we most impressed with the hand of God and where are we most likely to learn? When God fulfills our expectations & desires, or when He works in His way & in His timing and knocks the socks off of our expectations when lives like Saul’s are redeemed? We might like to see everyone in ISIS drop dead all at once, but what testimony would there be for God if these men and women who breathe threats and murder against the church today found themselves exposed to the light and Gospel of Christ through their encounters with those they oppress? What if God chooses to use the example and hearts of those they abuse and kill, or their families who remain behind, to speak into their hearts? History shows He has done this many, many times, from Saul to the Roman army and beyond. 

Thankfully, God’s plans are better than ours. Thankfully His patience runs deeper and stronger than ours. Thankfully for us today, He spoke into the life and heart of Saul who wrote the bulk of the New Testament under the influence and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. And those words, spoken and written through a man who was more than just a little rough around the edges, have stood as encouragement and testimony for millions and millions of us over the last 2000 years. 

Saul’s redemption was hard to believe for his contemporaries. God may be doing a work in the life of someone you don’t particularly care for, and He may even use you to GoLove them in His Name, acting as His hands, feet, heart and mouth. So, don’t ever discount people. Don’t write anyone off, and ask God to make your heart like His for the lost. Don’t write off His ability to use you to help bring about this change in their hearts and in yours. 

Ezekiel 18:23-24

“Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked?” This is the declaration of the Lord God. “Instead, dont I take pleasure when he turns from his ways and lives? 24 But when a righteous person turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, committing the same detestable acts that the wicked do, will he live? None of the righteous acts he did will be remembered. He will die because of the treachery he has engaged in and the sin he has committed.”