5 Smooth Stones

Chapter Thirty-One

CALLED FROM BIRTH

P eople can make monumental decisions based upon incomplete information, which can have far-reaching and signi fi cant results or consequences, depending upon the fi nal outcome. The young man of God in 1 Kings 13 had enough information to succeed, but not enough experience to discern the wiles of the devil. His actions had far-reaching positive results for God’s people later in the days of King Josiah, yet they also had devastating consequences in his own time. When Saul consented unto Stephen’s martyrdom and persecuted the church he was doing so out of zeal for the Word of God which he had been well trained in and as he understood it. The consequences of his actions were monumental. Acts 8:1 “Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all sca tt ered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. 3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging o ff men and women, commi tt ing them to prison.” From the perspective that Saul had at that time, his actions were totally justi fi ed, and even commendable to the ruling class of the Jews. Yet he was dead wrong and was certainly deserving of divine judgment for unrighteously condemning the Lord’s innocent children and followers. The question to consider in light of perspective, is whether Saul, who became known as Paul the apostle of Christ, was called of God even before he met the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus? We know from scripture that he received his call while on the road to persecute and imprison Jews who were followers of Christ, but was this where his calling began? Acts 9:1 “Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked le tt ers from him to the syn agogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting

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