Confused

After eating, he regained his strength. He stayed with the disciples in Damascus for several days. Right away, he began to preach about Jesus in the synagogues. “He is God’s Son,” he declared. Everyone who heard him was baffled. They questioned each other, “Isn’t he the one who was wreaking havoc among those in Jerusalem who called on this name? Hadn’t he come here to take those same people as prisoners to the chief priests?” But Saul grew stronger and stronger. He confused the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ. After this had gone on for some time, the Jews hatched a plot to kill Saul. However, he found out about their scheme. They were keeping watch at the city gates around the clock so they could assassinate him. But his disciples took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the city wall. When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him. They didn’t believe he was really a disciple. Then Barnabas brought Saul to the apostles and told them the story about how Saul saw the Lord on the way and that the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them about the confidence with which Saul had preached in the name of Jesus in Damascus. After this, Saul moved freely among the disciples in Jerusalem and was speaking with confidence in the name of the Lord. He got into debates with the Greek-speaking Jews as well, but they tried to kill him. When the family of believers learned about this, they escorted him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. God strengthened the church, and its life was marked by reverence for the Lord. Encouraged by the Holy Spirit, the church continued to grow in numbers. (Acts 9:19b-31, CEB)

Have you ever heard the story about the person going to heaven and everyone was staring at them. They saw people they did not expect to see but everyone looked at them in wonder. They finally asked, “Why is everyone staring at me?” The response came, “No one expected you to be here.”

We are confused when we see someone acting in a way we don’t remember or expect. We think we know people and that they will never change.

Saul was met by Jesus and was changed. Saul no longer was looking to stop followers of the way, but now was a follower of the way. The disciples may not have heard of his transformation and that is why they were hesitant. But we always need to be open to God changing lives and people changing.

We all change as we grow deeper in our faith and love of God and are moved to love the world more like Jesus.

Be open to people changing.

God changed you. God can change others.

Loving People. Loving God.