We read Acts 8 in today's Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. Look at verses 1-4:
And Saul was [not only] consenting to [Stephen’s] death [he was pleased and entirely approving]. On that day a great and severe persecution broke out against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles (special messengers). 2 [A party of] devout men with others helped to carry out and bury Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 3 But Saul shamefully treated and laid waste the church continuously [with cruelty and violence]; and entering house after house, he dragged out men and women and committed them to prison. 4 Now those who were scattered abroad went about [through the land from place to place] preaching the glad tidings, the Word [the doctrine concerning the attainment through Christ of salvation in the kingdom of God].
When Stephen was stoned to death by the mob, the above verses tell us that Saul was not only in favor of them doing this, but he was pleased by it! Not only that, but Saul then went out himself persecuting, harassing, cruelly and violently treating and arresting the believers that he came in contact with. He sought out those whom he could treat this way. That gives us a pretty grim picture of the man that Saul was BEFORE he had a personal encounter with JESUS! I hope that you will keep this in mind in your own personal dealing with people you encounter. Left to ourselves, every person is evil! BUT, surrendered to JESUS, ANYONE can become a vital minister of the Gospel of GRACE! AMEN! Follow the leading of Holy Spirit so that you stay sensitive, and obedient, to His leading and YOU may end up being the next 'Ananias' in someone's life! (That account is in tomorrow's reading!) Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Alive":
Shalom in Him!
