April 23, 2009 - Acts 9:1

“Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples….” Acts 9:1.
Saul, a young, zealous Pharisee, had witnessed the stoning of Stephen, and was one of the leaders who carried out the plan to exterminate this new movement. He was a very educated man for his time period, having trained under the tutoring of Gamaliel, a famous and respected teacher and Rabbi. Carrying out these “murderous threats” was Saul’s efforts to keep his religion pure and to make sure that heresies were dealt with. These early followers of Jesus were viewed as being just as bad as their leader, and they needed to be dealt with.
On one hand, it is understandable that Saul was zealous to keep his religion pure. However, his outward response – arresting, beating, and killing these people – although an extreme way to accomplish this, was allowed by the Law of Moses. Saul was zealous for purity, yet we see the fruit of such zealousness in his vindictive attitude toward the followers of Jesus.
It does not take me very long to realize that I have some of Saul’s vindictiveness within me. How do I respond when I believe that someone has wronged me, or how do I react when I believe that someone is doing wrong? On a macro scale, how did the Crusades help the cause of Christ in the world? The truth is we can justify our actions, even when our actions may blatantly be destructive to our world, as well as to us. And we do this in the name of the Lord or “security” – protecting our territory and keeping it pure.
Questions to consider: When does “protecting our territory” cross the line from loving God and neighbor into protecting my own interests? When have you seen a vindictive attitude rise up within you, and why do you think that happened? What would God say about “protecting our territory?”
Prayer: Father, please help me to lay down my own desire to protect, and help me to see when I am mistakenly doing it in Your name. Help me to walk in love with my neighbors, whoever they are. Amen.