Eating Dust on the Damascus Road

Biblical

May 13

I’m on Day 30 of the 40-Day Challenge. It’s the story of Saul/Paul’s conversion and call. I’m struck by Jesus’ authority as he confronts this destroyer of the church. Whatever inner turmoil Paul may have been experiencing, Luke doesn’t mention it. Paul is determined to go to Damascus and Jesus stands in his way.

Jesus wrestles Paul to the ground and accuses him of persecuting God’s Messiah by persecuting God’s people. God strikes Paul blind and he is led by the hand into Damascus, helpless. For three days he doesn’t eat or drink, waiting for God’s next move.

Jesus takes charge of this man’s life. He humbles him, convicts him of sin, then he calls him, restores him and fills him with his Spirit. All Paul can do is obey the command to be baptised and have his sins washed away as he calls upon God’s mercy.

Paul doesn’t volunteer, he will be told how he will play his part in God’s plan.

He will face rejection and experience suffering, but God will rescue him. Paul will bring light where there is darkness. He will deliver people from the power of Satan to God. Paul will preach repentance and faith, resulting in the forgiveness of sins and inclusion of new disciples among God’s people.

The rest of Acts is a commentary on what that mission looks like.

This is Paul’s mission because it is God’s mission. Paul is not the second founder of Christianity, as some scholars claim, Paul was chosen and called by the Risen Lord Jesus and told what to do. He obeyed.

If at the end of the day our best thinking about mission leads us in a different direction, we might be wrong.

Want to learn more? Take the 40-Day Challenge.