QT 18/05/2026 Mon Acts 9 From The Persecutor to The Promoter 从迫害者到传道者

QT 18/05/2026 Mon Acts 9  From The Persecutor to The Promoter
READ http://www.esv.org/acts9

What if the most passionate person in the room is actually fighting against God? In Acts 9, a violent persecutor meets Jesus—and in one moment, everything flips. This isn’t just his story… it might be yours. Let’s look at some learnings from Acts 9 today.

Ever been 100% sure you were right… and completely wrong? Acts 9 shows a man with unstoppable zeal—until he collides with Jesus. And that encounter changes his purpose forever. Paul hunted Christians. Jesus stopped him. Three days of blindness—and a lifetime of purpose. Acts 9 proves this: your passion means nothing if it’s pointed the wrong way.

Saul’s story confronts us with a sobering truth: passion alone is not righteousness. Before his encounter with Christ, Saul was intensely devoted—zealous, disciplined, and unwavering. Yet all that energy was directed against God’s people.

Reflection: Paul’s life reminds us that diligence and fervor are spiritually neutral; what matters is who we serve. A heart fully committed can still be fully wrong if it is not surrendered to Christ.

On the road to Damascus, everything changed. A blinding light from heaven stopped Saul in his tracks, and a voice called out, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” In that moment, Saul learned something profound: to harm the church is to wound Christ Himself. Jesus so identifies with His people that their suffering becomes His own. This should sober us. Our attitudes, words, and actions toward fellow believers are never trivial—they are personal to the Lord.

Saul’s physical blindness for three days mirrored his spiritual condition. The very light that revealed Christ also exposed his darkness. Sometimes God must interrupt us, even humble us, to open our eyes. What feels like disorientation may actually be divine mercy, preparing us to truly see.

When Saul asks, “Who are you, Lord?” we sense the tension—he recognizes authority, but not identity. It is possible to use the language of surrender without truly knowing the One we claim to follow. Genuine transformation begins when Jesus is not just acknowledged as “Lord” in word, but known in truth.

Then comes one of the most comforting and humbling revelations: God had already chosen Saul. Before Damascus, before repentance, before understanding—God had a purpose for him. The same is true for us. God’s calling is not an afterthought; it precedes our awareness. Our role is not to manufacture purpose, but to respond with sensitivity and obedience when He reveals it.

From persecutor to promoter, Saul’s life became a testimony of grace. The man who once tried to destroy the church would spend his life building it. That is the power of the gospel—it does not just redirect behavior; it transforms identity.

Reflections

(a) Where is your zeal being directed today—toward Christ or toward something else?
(b) How do your actions toward fellow believers reflect your relationship with Jesus?
(c) Is there an area where God may be trying to open your eyes, even through discomfort?
(d) Are you living with awareness that God has already called you for His purposes?

Prayer

Lord, redirect my zeal so that it is fully surrendered to You. Guard my heart in how I treat others, especially Your people. Open my eyes to see You clearly, and make me sensitive to Your calling. Transform me, as You did Saul, into someone who advances Your kingdom. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

QT 18/05/2026 星期一. 使徒行传 9  从迫害者到传道者
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/act/9/

如果房间里那个最热情洋溢的人，其实正在与神为敌，会怎样？在《使徒行传》第9章中，一位凶残的迫害者遇见了耶稣——转瞬之间，一切都发生了翻天覆地的变化。这不仅仅是他个人的故事……也可能是你的故事。今天，让我们从《使徒行传》第9章中汲取一些启示。

你是否曾百分之百确信自己是对的……结果却完全错了？《使徒行传》第9章展现了一位充满不可阻挡的热忱之人——直到他与耶稣相遇。那次相遇永远改变了他的使命。保罗曾追捕基督徒。耶稣制止了他。三天的失明——换来一生的使命。《使徒行传》第9章证明了这一点：如果你的热情指向了错误的方向，它便毫无意义。

扫罗的故事向我们揭示了一个发人深省的真理：单凭热情并非公义。在遇见基督之前，扫罗全心投入——热忱、自律、坚定不移。然而，他所有的精力都指向了神的子民。

反思：保罗的一生提醒我们，勤勉与热忱在属灵层面是中性的；关键在于我们侍奉的是谁。若不向基督降服，一颗全然委身的心仍可能完全偏离正道。

在大马士革路上，一切都改变了。一道来自天上的耀眼光芒使扫罗停下了脚步，有声音呼唤道：“扫罗，扫罗，你为什么逼害我？”就在那一刻，扫罗领悟到一个深刻的道理：伤害教会，就是伤害基督自己。耶稣与祂的子民如此紧密相连，以致他们的苦难也成了祂的苦难。这应当使我们警醒。我们对待弟兄姊妹的态度、言语和行为绝非小事——它们与主息息相关。

扫罗连续三天肉眼失明，恰恰映照出他灵里的光景。那显明基督的光，同时也揭露了他的黑暗。有时神必须打断我们，甚至使我们谦卑，才能开启我们的眼睛。看似迷失方向的经历，其实可能是神的怜悯，正预备我们真正看清。

当扫罗问：“主啊，你是谁？”我们能感受到其中的张力——他承认了权柄，却不认识那身份。我们可能口头上说出顺服的话语，却并未真正认识那位我们声称跟随的主。真正的改变始于不仅在言语上承认耶稣是“主”，更是在真理中认识祂。

随后，一个最令人安慰且谦卑的启示出现了：神早已拣选了扫罗。在大马士革事件之前，在悔改之前，在明白之前——神对他已有旨意。对我们而言也是如此。神的呼召并非事后才想到的；它早于我们的觉察。我们的角色不是去制造目的，而是在祂显明时，以敏锐和顺服来回应。

从迫害者到传道者，扫罗的一生成为了恩典的见证。这个曾经试图摧毁教会的人，余生却致力于建造教会。这就是福音的大能——它不仅能改变行为，更能重塑身份。

反思

(a) 今天，你的热忱指向何方——是基督，还是其他事物？
(b) 你对待弟兄姊妹的行为，如何反映出你与耶稣的关系？
(c) 是否有某个领域，神正试图开启你的眼界，哪怕这过程伴随着不适？
(d) 你是否时刻意识到，神早已呼召你，为要成就祂的旨意？

祷告

主啊，求祢引导我的热忱，使它全然顺服于祢。求祢保守我的心，让我在待人接物上，特别是对待祢的子民时，都能合乎祢的心意。求祢开启我的眼睛，使我能清晰地看见祢，并让我对祢的呼召保持敏锐。求祢像改变扫罗那样改变我，使我成为一位推进祢国度的人。奉耶稣的名祷告。阿们。