Have you ever experienced a time of being humbled in your life? Surprisingly, a humbling time can be one of the best things that can happen. Saul was heading to Damascus to persecute Christians. He was sure he was doing the will of God. Saul was a Biblical scholar of the Old Testament but didn’t know Jesus until God intervened.
As Saul was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” 5 “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! 6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one! 8 Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus. 9 He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink. [1] Acts 9:4-9
His experience with Jesus gave Saul time to think. He had been humbled and blinded. His pride was gone and now Saul became teachable and moldable. Saul, as the story goes on, is now open to hearing about the good news of Jesus. This would have never happened if he had not been humbled. Being humbled was a precious gift from the Lord.
We read in James 4:6, “And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” [2] But what does it mean to be humble?
To be humble is to realize how weak we are, and how helpless we are to change the course of our lives in our own power. Humility is necessary to ask God for His forgiveness and to trust Him for His guidance. This is what happened to Saul when he met Jesus on the road to Damascus.
The Lord wants us to realize and confess our helplessness, our sinfulness, and our complete need for Him in our lives. Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. [3]
To hear the story of the Divine Intruder and Saul, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/series/journey-with-the-divine-intruder/the-divine-intruder-and-saul
[1, 2, 3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Ac 9:3–9, James 4:6, Psalm 34:18). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.