Don’t Be a Saul, Be a Paul

Don’t be a Saul, be a Paul!

As I was studying for a teaching, the Lord showed me a picture of Paul when he was still Saul. I saw Saul as a villain in a Spaghetti Western (the low-budget films made in Italy during the 1960s and early 1970s.). 

Saul was an absolute villain! He hated Christians and even delighted in the stoning of them. He was the “strong-arm,” the one who ruled the town. He didn’t like “them Christians.” He was hell-bent on killing them or running them out of “his town.” He was consistently looking for a “showdown.” He was full of pride, which led him to believe that he was doing God a favor by getting rid of “all them Christians out there.” And in doing so, he was defending the God of Israel. Unfortunately, he was only defending the god of self. 

Pride kills destinies. Pride short-circuits timelines. Pride destroys.  

And Saul was full of it! 

Then I saw  Jesus show up like Clint Eastwood in the movie High Plains Drifter (can you hear the soundtrack in the background?) Jesus was standing on Straight Street (the road to Damascus) and looking out at the horizon. In the distance, Saul rode in on his “high horse.” All of a sudden, a light shone from Heaven. The light was so blinding that Saul fell off his high horse out of fear and astonishment. Saul could not see anyone, but he heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard to kick against the goads.” Acts 26:14 

Now Goads were typically made from slender pieces of timber, blunt on one end and pointed on the other. Farmers used the pointed end to urge a stubborn ox into motion. Foolishly, an ox might kick against the goad, causing injury and pain to its leg.  (Christianity.com) 

Jesus was calling Saul a stubborn ox! Jesus was the goad! 

Saul was trembling, and with stammering lips, he asked, “Who are You, Lord?” Even though he could not see Him, Saul knew he was talking to someone with authority. He was actually talking to Jesus, the Sheriff of Heaven and Earth–the Sheriff of everything! Then Jesus said to him, “I AM Jesus whom you are persecuting.”

Saul was shaking in his sandals now. He was terrified! He asked the Lord, “Lord, what do you want me to do?” It was then that Jesus gave him his first assignment; “Go into the city, and you will be told what to do.” Saul needed to go and wait for instruction, and someone had to lead him because he could not see. (This was very humbling) 

Saul was knocked off his high horse of pride that day, and God humbled him. Saul could not see because of the blinding light. God gave him a visual-or not so visual–picture. Pride blinds us!  But, when we humble ourselves, we can be led into a safe place. 

 Humility, by the world’s definition, often implies diminished self-confidence. However, humility in the Bible means getting your confidence from God, who loves and values you more than you do yourself; it means believing what God says about you over anyone else’s opinion, including your own! 

 Humility requires embracing who you are in Christ over who you are in the flesh. To be biblically humble is to be so free of concern for your own ego that you unreservedly elevate those around you. 

                                      (Gentle Christian Parenting/Parenting in Christ-Dronen, Jackson)

 To lead with humility, we first need to know how God values us and get our confidence from Him.

 Leading with humility is a mark of maturity; pride, on the other hand, is like a demanding two-year-old. It (pride) is immature. It throws tantrums, wants its own way, and moves in comparison-“Johnny has more toys than me!”. Pride bullies people, especially if those people don’t think or do what pride wants. Pride is so ridiculously jealous. It manipulates, controls, blinds, and hinders peace. Yes, pride is sooo immature!

 But humility LOVES! It is the prized crown to lay at the feet of Jesus. It moves with all the lusciousness of the Fruit of the Spirit. It encourages “one-anothering.” It sees the gold in each person and calls it out in them. Humility is the poster child of The Cross of Jesus. 

 Humility is the essential ingredient for being a leader. You must be a servant before you can become a good leader. Jesus was the ultimate example of that.

 God, Himself had to humble Saul so He could position him as Paul.

The takeaway:

  It is better for us to fall on the Rock than for the Rock to fall on us!

Just ask Paul!

Blessings!

Joy Pharo

 Sanctioned Love