Today’s Reading: Acts 7:30-53

58 Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him, and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.
Acts 7:58

Here, we meet Saul/Paul for the first time.

I love how Luke introduces Saul, interjecting him into the middle of the story of the first Christian martyr. Stephen, one of the apostles, has just been stoned. Luke interjects Saul into the story, standing at the body of this freshly martyred apostle. The story from today’s reading shows us that Stephen won’t back down from the gospel and loses his life for it. Almost certainly, Saul has some role to play, perhaps even leading this effort, as he is charged by his superiors to suppress this new sect of Judaism known as The Way, what would become Christianity.

It’s hard to imagine a greater villain than Saul to the early Christian tradition. He was rabid to put down this movement and destroy it. He acted ruthlessly. He believed fully in his mission. We can rightly call him a zealot. 

This enemy to nascent Christianity is who God uses to further the church. If there’s a story in the Bible that demonstrates no one is beyond redemption, it’s Saul. There is no evil, no sin, that can separate us from not only God’s love, but God’s redemption, changing our story, turning what was meant for evil into good.

Think
Do I feel separated from God by some sin or evil? Do I believe someone in my life to be beyond God’s redemption?

Pray
Confess any sin or evil that has come to mind and pray for anyone who comes to mind, asking God to give you eyes to see them as God does.

Do
Share with a close friend or family member anything that comes up for you through this time of prayer.

Think, Pray, Do. As we respond in faith to scripture, God moves in power through our minds, hearts, and bodies. We are the people of God. Thanks for reading today. Go in peace. Amen.

Think, Pray, Do devotionals by Ted Goshorn follow the suggested bible reading plan from his website and book, Prayer Changes Us. Find this Bible reading plan at tedgoshorn.org/biblereading. If you have found today’s devotion helpful, don’t forget to subscribe for daily emails at tedgoshorn.org and share with others that we may think, pray, and do faithfully.