Jesus intervenes in Saul’s life and radically changes him so he can fulfill the Lord’s plans. Saul thought he was doing the Lord’s work as he traveled to Damascus to persecute believers in Jesus, but he was deceived. In God’s mercy and grace, He has plans to save Saul, which will take his intervention.
Acts 9:3 As he 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.” [1]
The Lord Knows the Best Way to Draw Us to Himself
God intervened in the lives of all who have come to faith in Jesus. Jesus tells us this. John 6:44 For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up.[2] We may think we have found our way to the cross of Jesus, but the Lord has drawn us there to place our faith in him.
Sometimes, God breaks dramatically into our lives, like Saul, and sometimes, our conversion is a quiet experience. We must be cautious of people who think you must have a surprising or particular conversion experience. Jesus brings people to faith in many ways and knows how to draw them to Himself.
The fantastic thing about the Lord is He intervenes in our lives to draw us to faith and continues to intervene after our conversion. God’s word tells us that Jesus speaks to the Father on our behalf. Hebrews 7:25 Therefore, he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf. [3]
It is God’s Nature to Intervene on Our Behalf
The Lord intervenes in our lives in different ways. He has revealed Himself as our healer, deliver, defender, helper, shepherd, and Savior. As God intervenes, He shows Himself to be a God of mercy and grace. We desperately need His intervention for the pains of this world, especially our sins. Where would any of us be today without God’s ongoing divine intervention? How has the Lord intervened in your life, and how has that changed your spiritual journey?
Saul used his Greek name, Paul, when he wrote his Epistles. 1 Timothy 1:15This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all.[4] After his conversion, Paul never stopped thanking the Lord for His divine intervention, which saved him from the path of destruction. We are all like Paul because, without Jesus’ intervention, we would not have come to faith and have eternal life. Thank you, Jesus!
To learn how Jesus intervenes, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/god-arrests-saul
[1-4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.