Escaping Ordinary Week 9: Monday

"He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting!" Acts 9:4-5

Not much feels lonelier than going through hard times. When the people around us seem to be going about life as usual, and we are hurting, we often feel isolated and alone. The early church knew what it felt like to go through immense hardship. Their persecution certainly threatened to make them feel alone and isolated. They might have felt alone, but Scripture clarifies that they were not alone. Jesus was with them every step of the way, and He experienced their pain and hardship with them.

 Acts 9 tells us about a man named Saul who was threatening Christians. He even got permission from synagogues in Damascus to arrest any followers of Christ whom he found   there (verse 2). His goal was to bring these Christ-followers "back to Jerusalem in chains" (verse 2). This news must have been a terrifying and fearful time for Christians in the early church. Yet, amidst all of the struggle, God was working. While Saul was on his way to Damascus, "a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. He fell to the ground and heard a verse saying to him, 'Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?" (verses 3-4). Paul responded and asked the question we all would have wondered, "Who are you?" (verse 5). The response is breathtaking. The voice said, "I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting!" (verse 5). Can you believe what Saul was thinking at this moment? Jesus was speaking to him. We learn something significant from Jesus' response. Jesus explained that when he was persecuting Christ's followers, he was also persecuting Jesus Himself. This persecution was not physical, as Jesus had already returned to Heaven, but when His church was being persecuted, Jesus felt it and experienced it alongside them. They were not alone.

Like the early church, we are not alone when facing hardship. Jesus is with us, and He experiences our pain with us. We may feel isolated and alone, but rest assured, friends, He is always with us.

Moving toward action

How incredible is it that Christ is with us through everything?! He never for a moment leaves us alone. Take a few minutes to pray and thank God for always being with you. Thank Him that he never leaves you alone. Find comfort in this truth today.

Going Deeper

Acts 9:1-5 (NLT)