A WAY OF LIFE

Acts 9:1-6 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, (2) And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. (3) And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:(4) And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? (5) And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.(6) And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

Many people confuse religion with serving God. Saul was such a man before his conversion. He was religious, just like many today are religious. He strongly believed that what he was doing was the right thing. Being sincere does not make something true.
The prophets of Baal were so sincere that they even cut themselves and committed suicide to call upon their false god. He did not answer because he did not exist even though they sincerely believed in him.
There are many today who believe just as sincerely and just as wrongly in their religions.
Saul became the apostle Paul and he learned that Christianity was not just a religion. It was a way of life. It was a whole new way of living and thinking. It did not include persecution and violence but was based upon the teachings of a loving Savior who did not want to mete out justice but forgiveness. He did not spread hate but love.
Let us pray that many of the religious fanatics of the world today will meet Jesus on the road to somewhere and will find a new way of life.