changed

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)

The people who were still a part of the Jewish religion that knew Saul before he met Jesus on the road wanted Saul to still be here. They could not understand the change and wanted to eliminate the new Saul.

Sometimes people get upset when we change and no longer support what they support. We have seen this in current political systems. People who supported a particular person and way of thinking, who “suddenly” change their mind or direction, are thrown under a bus or left to fend for themselves. Those who faced no public ridicule are now getting death threats.

Do not ridicule someone because they are not the person you imagined or wanted them to be. Maybe they are the person God needs them to be, and in accepting that, maybe you will be the person God wants/needs you to be.

Let God change you, and accept those who God has changed.