Ahh…spring. The birds are singing, the sun is shining, and the flowers are beginning to push their way through the earth. It’s a joyous time to remember our Savior! This season, let’s remember Him both in thought AND in deed.
In Acts 9:1-5, we read about Saul’s conversion:
“But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
“Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.”
According to verses 1 and 2 in this chapter, who exactly was Saul persecuting? That’s right… “disciples of the Lord, and any belonging to the Way, men or women.”
But when Jesus spoke to Saul in verses 4 and 5, who did He say Saul was persecuting? He said, “Why are you persecuting me?” Jesus said that Saul was persecuting HIM – Jesus. What does this tell us about how God views our own actions toward other people in our lives?
Whatever good we do in our lives… whatever EVIL we do in our lives, we are inadvertently doing to Jesus. Isn’t this enough for us to strive to treat others well? Isn’t this enough to make us try to do good to all of our neighbors, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ? Surely none of us intend to lie to Jesus… or steal from Him… or make Him feel inferior… or spread rumors about Him… or get angry at Him… or hold a grudge against Him… or criticize or belittle Him. But Jesus plainly says in Matthew 25 that “As you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”
As we enter into this beautiful season of rebirth and renewal, ask God to bring to mind anyone that you may treated in a way that was harmful to them… a way that was therefore harmful to His son. Ask His forgiveness for your sin against Him and the individuals you may have hurt. If appropriate, seek forgiveness from those individuals! Jesus brings freedom from old sins… from old grudges and grievances. Let God give YOU a special season of rebirth as we celebrate the resurrection of His son this year!
