Rembering

"And Saul was there, giving approval to his death."
"But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison."
Acts 8:1 , 3

Spoiler alert: Saul is Paul. Ok, so you probably already knew that. In our study of Acts we are on the cusp of one of the greatest conversion stories in history. This Saul who is terrorizing the church is going to do a sudden 180 and become not just a believer, but one who would become know as the "apostle to the Gentiles." For the amazing story of how that happens you'll have to wait for next week...or your could read Acts 9...

However, we can see why Paul might consider himself "the chief of all sinners." Here in the beginning he is the instigator. He is the one who is leading the effort to quelch this new teaching.

I have to imagine that these early persecutions stuck with him. Imagine how differently he would look back on the stoning of Steven after being converted! I think it is interesting if you study Paul's letter to the Ephesians that the first command Paul gives doesn't come until 2:11. Up to that point in Ephesians Paul has been laying out all of the spiritual blessings God has given us. So what is his first command coming out of this description: for the Ephesians to "remember" how they had been in their former life.

As Christians it is easy to forget where we came from. I think this is especially true if you grew up a Christian. Sometimes we lose sight of who are, or who we could have been without Jesus. I think reflecting on these things gives us good perspective on the cross. When we understand the depths from which Jesus has saved us it gives us much more appreciation for that salvation.