Ah, to be first is the best, is it not?   Yet, perspective can be lost then we are exulted above all else!    Worst of all, is that we do not realize we have lost direction!

As with everything, Jesus covered this aspect of living too!   It is so elusive, that we can not recognize the ‘truth’ when we are being recognized for our accomplishment.

To be first, and to be the best, is not the sin in itself, but rather the desire to be exulted!

In the Book of the Acts of the Apostles,  Saul  is so intent on being the very best Jew, He professed against Christ  fervently.   So sure was he, that he set out to destroy Our Lords  Disciples.   As we read further we discover that Saul had the very best of intentions.   Yet, the ‘New Way’ that was upon them was from God.   The very God he was persecuting!

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES: CHAPTER 9:verses 1-9   The Vocation of Saul:

1)”Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the LORDS disciples, went to the high Priests 2)and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus which would ’empower him’ to arrest and bring to Jerusalem anyone he might find, man or woman, living according to the ‘new way’.   3)As he traveled along and was approaching Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed about him.   4)He fell to the ground and at the same time heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul why do you persecute me?”   5)”Who are you, sir?” he asked.   The voice answered, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. 6) Get up and go into the city, where you will be told what to do.” 7) The men who were traveling with him stood there speechless.   They had heard the voice but could not see no one.   8)Saul got up from the ground unable to see, even though his eyes were open.   They had to take him by the hand and lead him into Damascus.   9)For three days he continued blind, during which time he neither ate nor drank.”

Upon the intervention of our LORD to Saul on the road to Damascus, the Lord sends a messenger to Saul by the name of Ananias.   The miracle of the conversion of Saul ensues:

Saul’s Baptism:   10)There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias to whom the LORD had appeared in a vision.   “Ananias!” he said.   ” Here I am, Lord, ” came the answer.   11) The LORD said to him, “Go at once to Straight Street, and at the house of Judas ask for a certain Saul of Tarsus.  12) He is there praying.” (Saul saw in a vision a man named Ananias coming to him placing his hands on him so that he might recover his sight.)   13) But Ananias protested: “Lord I have heard from many sources about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem.   14)He is here now with the authorization from  the chief priests to  arrest any who invoke your name.” 15)The Lord said to him: “You must go!   This man is the instrument I have chosen to bring my name to the Gentiles and their kings and  to the people of Israel.   16) I myself shall indicate to him how much he will have to suffer for my name.”   17)With that Ananias left. When he entered the house he laid his hands on Saul and said, “Saul, my brother, I have been sent by the LORD JESUS who appeared to you on the way here, to help you recover your sight and be filled with the HOLY SPIRIT.”   18) Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight.   He got up and was baptized,  19)and his strength returned to him after he had taken food.”

Saul  Preaches in Damascus: Verses 20-22

20)”Saul stayed some time with the disciples in Damascus, 20) and soon began to proclaim in the synagogues that Jesus was the Son of God.   21)Any who heard it were greatly taken aback.   They kept saying: “Isn’t this the man who worked such havoc in Jerusalem among those who invoke this name?   Did he not come here purposely to apprehend such people and bring them before the chief priests?”   22)Saul for his part grew steadily more powerful, and reduced the Jewish community of Damascus to silence with his proofs that this Jesus was the Messiah.”

Within the above scriptures are the essence of Christ’s Love!   Jesus could have done differently! He  chose to perfect Saul, and convert Him unto Himself!

Here we are with His great love revealed!   For Our Lord could have cast Saul down, and left him blind!   Yet, Jesus  Christ was revealing many things to us by choosing Saul, after He had already ‘proven’ He’s the Messiah!

Jesus saw Saul’s heart!   He looked within!   He knew his heart was good, and not evil!

Saul ‘persecuted’ Christ, so that he would be ‘exulted’ above all Jews.   He was making a name for himself.   It was his desire to leave a ‘lasting legacy’ behind.

Our Lord saw this.   He knew the thoughts of Saul, (later became Paul).    He could have remained silent!   He did not need to act out of love as He did.   After all, He was just here, and had proven Himself as the Christ!   But Christ is about Loving!   He knew before Paul all that was going to happen.       He being God incarnate willed the Love of the Father and the Son and the Holy  Spirit, to be acclaimed through Paul, so that the Jewish nation and Gentiles would come to know the power of God, through His Son Jesus Christ!

This way, the Jews and Gentiles could see first hand that Jesus lives on, even after death.   Jesus, though here, did not reach and reform and baptize all Jews.   Paul became His disciple to profess the truth, because He was such a devoted Jew!   (Take note of  how famous he had already become.)

Jesus Christ looks into the hearts of all of us.   He does for all of us every day.   However few take note of the love He is, and  the love He gives!

Just as after His resurrection  Jesus chose to ‘transform Saul,’ So he wishes to transform each of us.   However, we must be listening, and praying, at all times.   You will notice Saul did not curse God when he went blind.   He prayed!   He, with his prayers were heard and transformed into the light!   The light of Christ!

Because  he became obedient, his desires were fulfilled way beyond his wildest dreams.

Ananias, was also obedient to God, but also doubted!  He questioned the LORD!   How many of us have questioned the LORD?   Yet Jesus, ever patient, did not chastise Ananias, but assured him.

Because Jesus Christ is God incarnate, and knows first hand the trials and temptations of this life; He is ever patient!   It is He, God and Man, that can do all things!   Just as he did for Paul, He can do for anyone of us.

We must decrease, so that He may increase.   For when we allow Christ to shine through us,  He is glorifed!   Then, just as when Paul did this out of obedience was blessed,  so too will we be blessed!   For Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever!

The First Epistle of Paul to Timothy: Chapter 2 verses 3-6

3)”Prayer of this kind is good, and God our Savior is pleased with it, 4) for he wants all men to be saved and  come to know  the truth. 5)And the truth is this:

“God is one.   One also is the mediator, between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6) who  gave himself as a ransom for all.”

Book of:    LUKE  chapter 18 verse 14 Jesus Speaks

14) “Believe me, this man went home from the temple justified but the other did not.    For everyone who exults himself shall be humbled while he who humbles himself shall be exalted.”