Most of us like to imagine spiritual growth as a steady climb—small steps, a few breakthroughs, maybe a new habit or two. But every so often, God tells a different story. Not a “self-improvement” story, but a resurrection story. That’s what we see in Saul’s conversion on the Damascus road (Acts 9:1–19): a man moving full speed in the wrong direction, and Jesus stopping him with a mercy he didn’t ask for.
Saul wasn’t spiritually curious. He was “breathing out murderous threats” against believers (Acts 9:1). He traveled about 150 miles to Damascus with legal authority to arrest Christians—men and women—and drag them back to Jerusalem (Acts 9:2). This wasn’t a man having doubts and looking for answers. This was a man convinced he was right.
And that’s part of what makes this account so hopeful. If Jesus can reach Saul, He can reach anyone. He can reach you. He can reach the person you’ve quietly assumed is too far gone.
# When Jesus Takes the Initiative
The turning point begins with a light “from heaven” flashing around Saul (Acts 9:3). He falls to the ground and hears his name—twice: “Saul, Saul” (Acts 9:4). In Scripture, that repeated name often carries tenderness, not just authority. Jesus isn’t merely exposing Saul; He’s pursuing him.
This is what conversion really is: not you climbing your way to God, but God breaking into your life. Saul wasn’t looking for Jesus, but Jesus was looking for Saul. Later Paul describes it with arresting honesty: “Christ Jesus took hold of me” (Philippians 3:12). And he compares the moment to creation itself—God speaking light into darkness (2 Corinthians 4:6). That’s not religious motivation. That’s divine intervention.
If you want to grow spiritually, start here: your confidence can’t be in your willpower. It has to be in God’s ability to shine light where you can’t manufacture it.
And if you care about someone else coming to faith, this changes how you approach them. Yes, speak. Yes, love. Yes, invite. But above all, pray—because only God can open blind eyes.
# “I Am Jesus”: The Sentence That Changes Everything
Saul asks, “Who are you, Lord?” (Acts 9:5). And Jesus answers: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting” (Acts 9:5).
Those words would have detonated Saul’s entire worldview. Saul believed a crucified man couldn’t be God’s Messiah—because Scripture says, “cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree” (Deuteronomy 21:23; echoed in Galatians 3:13). To Saul, the cross disqualified Jesus.
But now the risen Christ is speaking from heaven. The One Saul assumed was dead is undeniably alive. The One Saul called cursed is calling him by name.
And notice what Jesus says: persecuting Christians is persecuting Him. “Why do you persecute me?” (Acts 9:4). This is where Paul’s later emphasis on being “in Christ” starts to make sense. Jesus is so united to His people that what touches them touches Him. Your suffering is not invisible to Him. Your faithfulness is not forgotten by Him. Your life is not separate from His.
# Blindness, Judgment, and Unexpected Mercy
Saul is struck blind for three days (Acts 9:9). It’s not just a physical effect of the light—others saw the light and weren’t blinded. Saul’s blindness is personal. It’s a kind of judgment that forces him to face reality: he has been fighting God.
Old Testament echoes would have been hard to miss—like the covenant curse of groping at noon like the blind (Deuteronomy 28:29; Isaiah 59:10). Saul is tasting what his rebellion deserves.
And yet mercy is already on the way. Jesus sends Ananias—an understandably hesitant disciple—to lay hands on Saul. And when he does, he calls him “Brother Saul” (Acts 9:17). That single word is stunning. The feared enemy is welcomed into the family. Scales fall, sight returns, Saul is filled with the Holy Spirit, and he is baptized (Acts 9:18).
Here’s the heart of it: Saul is forgiven because Jesus took the curse Saul deserved. Paul later writes it plainly: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13). The cross—the very thing Saul thought proved Jesus was false—turns out to be the center of salvation.
# Walking It Out This Week
If you want to grow spiritually, don’t reduce Christianity to ideas or behavior tweaks. Saul’s story reminds us that growth begins with a Person. Ask yourself: Have I been relating to Jesus as a distant concept, or as the risen Lord who calls people by name (John 10:3)?
Then do two simple, brave things this week: pray for God to open your eyes where you’ve been resisting Him, and pray for one person you love who seems unmoved. Jesus is still able to interrupt a life—gently, powerfully, personally.
Because the same Savior who stopped Saul is still stopping people today.
Add comment
Comments