“A Spirit-filled Conversion"
Acts 9:1-30

“Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.” [Acts 9:8]

A far cry from “breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord.” [Acts 9:1] But that is what meeting the risen Lord does. Firstly, it demands your attention, and secondly, you bow. 

The apostle John had a similar experience, “when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead.” [Rev 1:17] Saul, soon to be Paul, the one who has written most of our New Testament, wrote this to the church at Philippi: 

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” [Php 2:5-11]

A day is coming when every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. From “kicking against the goads” to dropping to his knees [Acts 9:4-5], Saul was humbled. He was led by the hand [Acts 9:8]; and was taught “many days” [Acts 9:23; Gal 1:15-18] by the Spirit of God; and he became the apostle to the Gentiles [Rom 11:13]. Saul’s new life testified a Spirit-filled conversion! He was renamed Paul, “little one,” revealing a newly minted brand of humility in his life. 

In God’s economy it is not how you start but how you finish that makes all the difference! At the end of his days Paul wrote: “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” [2 Timothy 4:6-8]

God foreknows and sees our finish. We would do well to allow Him to mold and shape us, to change us, that we finish well.