By Kate Murphy
Hauled before King Agrippa in a Kafkaesque procedure, Paul once again bears witness to the gospel. “Tell us about yourself,” and so the prisoner tells his story, and at the center of his life is a stunning reversal. Paul built his life around his own religious purity, and a key part of that righteousness required persecuting blasphemers. Jews who claimed Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah and the son of God — they were scandalous liars who deserved death. So Paul killed them, legally and viciously.
Standing there in chains, he told his captors about the day he was on his way to Damascus to kill more Christ followers, certain he was doing holy work. And God interrupted. Jesus appeared in a blaze of light to show him he was wrong, tragically, violently wrong. Paul, who had been strong and certain, was now blind and weak.
But this is the gospel, so that’s the beginning, not the end of the story. Jesus also came to choose Paul “to open the eyes of outsiders so they can see the difference between dark and light, and choose light.” In that same revelation, the murderous persecutor becomes apostle to the Gentiles. And you have to love Paul because from that day on, every time he proclaims the gospel, he shamelessly shares the story of how wrong he was until Jesus showed him right.
So, have you ever been wrong? Really outstandingly wrong about something that mattered? If you have, do you tell that story? Can you, like Paul, rejoice in your own foolishness because it magnifies God’s grace? And if you can’t think of a time when God showed you your error — what does that imply? Is it possible you’ve always been right about everything?
- Can you think of a time when God loved you enough to show you your sin? What kind of feelings does this memory provoke in you - Shame? Gratitude? Guilt? Joy?
- The story of how Paul came to know Christ is a particular illustration of God’s grace. God chose the church’s biggest persecutor to become the greatest apostle. Does that inspire you or infuriate you?
- What other details did you notice in today’s reading?
Prayer: God, you chose what is weak to shame the strong. Teach us not to be afraid of our weaknesses. Help us to desire righteousness more than being right. Give us teachable hearts. Amen.
