August 30, 2012 - Acts 26:15

            “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’  ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied.”  Acts 26:15.

            As Paul explained to King Agrippa and his court the story of how he came to be a follower of Jesus, he spoke this somewhat strange phrase.  When he asked who it was who had caused this blazing light around him, stopping him right in his tracks, the voice replied, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.”  Paul had been attacking and arresting many of the followers of Jesus, but he certainly wasn’t involved in actually killing Jesus.  So what did Jesus mean by saying this.  Jesus so identified with those who chose to follow Him that if any harm came to any of them, He – Jesus – felt that harm.  What Jesus stated to Paul was that when Paul did anything against one of Jesus’ followers, he was actually doing it to Him.

As I thought about this verse, I was struck with the words that I use when talking to others, and I thought of my attitude toward others.  I became convicted that some of my words were harmful and have had a negative effect on others.  Then I took it another step to realize that when I say negative, harmful words to others, I am actually harming Jesus, as well.  I realized that when I speak against another person, believer or not, I am speaking against the Lord.  I have the choice to bless or curse.  Paul, in another place said, “whatever is true or noble, right or pure, lovely or admirable, excellent or worthy of praise; think of these things.”  Maybe these are the type of words that could come out of my mouth.

Questions to consider: How does it make you feel when someone says negative, untrue, or awful things about you?  Do you recall when you have used negative or hurtful words to another person?  It helps me to realize that when I do such things, I am really doing them against Jesus, who I say is my Lord.  What does that say about my thoughts and my speech?  What does it say about yours?

Prayer: Father, I don’t have to think very hard to realize how it hurts You when I treat others – Your own image-bearing beings – badly.  Please forgive me for hurting You and help me to form new habits of thinking, speaking, and being a person who praises.  Amen.