Hot Coffee and a Hot Topic

More often than not, God gets me out of my comfort zone. He leads me to a "hot topic" in His Word and I don't always share it because it can become controversial and I'm not a big fan of controversy.  I'm certain some will not agree with what the Holy Spirit and I discussed this morning but I am to share it nonetheless.  God led me to Acts 9 this morning. I read on past verse 2 but the first two verses is the focus of discussion earlier. 

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way (followers of Christ who taught love and forgiveness), both men and women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem...Acts 9:1-2. 

Saul was very religious. He learned from the finest "seminary" around his parts. He was a good Pharisee. He knew all the Old Testament laws backwards and forwards; heck, he could probably quote them in his sleep! He sincerely believed the Christian movement was dangerous to the Jews thus Saul hated the Christian faith and persecuted those who believed in the forgiveness of sin through Christ without mercy. 

You know, I believe churches are full of Saul's today. Just take a look around.  We may PROFESS to be a follower of Christ yet we still are quick to condemn those who sin (like the Pharisees)  instead of offering forgiveness (like Christ). And then if we do act on forgiveness and acceptance of others, even in their pit of sin, then the Saul mentality "Christ followers" say we don't hold others accountable and we are too "open minded and accepting."  

So do you have the Saul mentality? Are you the "Christ follower" who warms the pew every time the doors are open, who knows the laws yet are quick to point out which "law" SOMEONE ELSE is breaking? 

You know, Saul ended up having a personal encounter with the Holy Spirit not many verses down and it changed his life and his way of thinking. No person, apart from Jesus himself, shaped the history of Christianity like the apostle Paul (his name changed from Saul to Paul after his encounter with the Holy Spirit). 

Have you had a name change yet?  Have you had an encounter with the Holy Spirit that rocked the way you "see things" the way Saul/Paul did?

Until next time...