Snapshots of Grace: Paul’s Spiritual Transformation
Every now and then I see a picture of myself from 20 or 30 years ago and usually I laugh. That guy in the picture always has more hair and his beard is a different color! Pictures are fun to look at, but they also serve an important function in helping us remember a particular day or event. Every bride gives special attention to make sure there are pictures of her wedding day so that the day is captured forever. And maybe the bride wants a picture to confirm that there was a day when her husband had hair and could stand up straight!
As I read passages from Acts and Philippians this morning, I got to thinking about Paul's transformation from when we first meet him in Acts 7 through 9 and when we read his epistles toward the end of his life. I'm sure if we had a Polaroid of Saul in Acts 7 overseeing Stephen's stoning and another from his incarceration in Philippians, Paul in the later picture would reveal an older and battle-worn man. Pictures only record the apparent physical appearance. But what if there was a camera that recorded our character and maturity just as it does our outside appearance? What would it be like to see how much we have matured in life spiritually and not just view our newly recorded wrinkles?
Reading Philippians this morning I caught a glimpse of Paul's transformation. In Acts, Luke tells us that Paul is a young man. And we get a sense of his character and determination as a self-righteous persecutor of the church. He was confident that he was doing the right thing in arresting and murdering Christians because in Paul's understanding a Christian was a threat to Jewish orthodoxy and they had to be stopped. He justified his hatred as appropriate obedience to God.
Just a few chapters later after Paul’s encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, we see evidence of how Jesus changed Paul’s heart and his approach to those who now opposed him for his faith in Jesus. In Acts 16 we find evidence of a changed man. Paul and Silas had been arrested, beaten, and jailed for sharing the gospel. Even after unfair accusations and the physical abuse, they chose to sing songs of praise while in chains and in prison. They did not allow hatred to grow in their hearts. While they prayed and sang, there was an earthquake and the chains on all the prisoners came off. The jailer panicked, fearing all the prisoners would escape on his watch, and fearing punishment, he decided to end his own life with his sword.
One filled with hatred might have just let that happen. But Paul was filled with love and cried out to the jailer that none of the prisoners had run away. Instead of retribution, Paul shared the gospel and the jailer and his family came to Christ.
The love of Jesus changes hearts and minds and results in changed behavior. Reading the book of Philippians, you see further evidence that Paul’s words and actions were in alignment with those of Jesus.
We live in a moment when we often find our words and actions are quite incongruent with those of Jesus. Far too often we look with the critical eye and speak words that indicate we would rather act with judgment and revenge than be treated with love and forgiveness. God have mercy on us.
Below are the highlights of Paul's heart in Philippians. Paul's words give us a picture of his growth and maturity of faith. But they also give us great confidence to stay the course in our mission. God is not finished with us yet! Time and even suffering can be and are used by God to extend his Kingdom every day.
Father, we pray that as we consider the truth we find in Acts and Philippians that you would transform our hearts, minds, and actions to reflect the love and mercy of Christ in every situation and with every person we encounter. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
Acts 8:1-3, 9:1-22, 16:19-34; Philippians 1:6, 19-21, 2:12-16, 3:8-11, 17, 4:11-13, 19-20 ESV
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