“AGAINST THE DISCIPLES!”

Acts 9:1-2                           (ESV)

“1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder “AGAINST THE DISCIPLES” of the LORD, went to the high priest

2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.”

Many may remember near the turn of the last century that the President of Iraq was one of the most despised men in the world.  He and a Muslim terrorist were tops on the Most Wanted Lists by most Law Enforcement agencies.  Both are now dead, but EVIL is as rampant today as ever.  It seems there is never a shortage of people who are “AGAINST THE DISCIPLES”, and their LORD!

Saul’s reputation was certainly as well known as modern day EVIL mongers.  He was known by members of “The Way”, and it was not in a good way.  In Acts 9:13-14 Ananias replied to JESUS, “LORD, I HAVE HEARD from many about this man, how much EVIL he has done to your saints at Jerusalem.  And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on YOUR name."  Ananias wasn’t a wimpy, but he recognized danger when he saw it, and he wanted to make certain he was hearing THE LORD correctly, especially since his mission could cost him his life!

Of course, we all know that Saul was TRANSFORMED by THE LORD, becoming the Apostle Paul, ultimately sacrificing his own life for The Way!  Saul was known to be a persecutor, and Paul is still known BY THE ENTIRE WORLD to be the instrument used to write a great deal of the New Testament.   

We ALL have a past, and most of our past’s have things we would be happy not remembering!  I am nowhere near what I need to be for the sake of CHRIST, but I am so far from where I once was that I am humbled to even breathe sometimes.  JESUS said in John 15:18 “"If the world hates you, know that it has hated ME before it hated you.”  Our CREATOR let us know that there would always be those who are “AGAINST THE DISCIPLES”, but it is such an honor to serve HIM that I will Glory in this world being “AGAINST THE DISCIPLES”!!!