也许你听说过使徒保罗，但你知道他也叫扫罗，曾经有着不堪回首的过去吗？他一度觉得他把基督徒下在监里是在做事奉神的工作，他甚至看着司提反被石头打死并对此表示赞同（徒7:58）。扫罗在向说希腊语的外邦人见证耶稣时，开始使用他的希腊名字保罗（徒13:9）。
尽管起初扫罗有种种恶毒的意图，耶稣却阻止了他的行动，扭转了他的人生轨迹。这使许多以前认识扫罗的人感到震惊。神改变了他的生命，赐给他新的目标。神会透过他的顺服，以祂的大能邀请外邦人（非犹太人）进入祂的国度。
我们有时会对那些给我们的生活带来麻烦的人怀有敌意，但耶稣的大能可以把他们从愤怒、仇恨和报复的状态转变为愿意分享神的爱、仁慈与和平。
想像一下那些认识扫罗这个曾经的迫害者，后来看到他积极宣讲耶稣是救主（弥赛亚）的人们的感受吧！扫罗如今在宣扬他曾极力抵挡的神的恩典和能力。
这就是福音的大能！
神啊，求你鉴察我，指出我生命中任何需要被你改变的地方。帮助我认清你如何为着你的荣耀更新我的生命。阿们。
使徒行传 9:1-19
1扫罗仍然向主的门徒口吐威吓凶杀的话，去见大祭司，
2求文书给大马士革的各会堂，若是找着信奉这道的人，无论男女，都准他捆绑带到耶路撒冷。
3扫罗行路，将到大马士革，忽然从天上发光，四面照着他。
4他就仆倒在地，听见有声音对他说：“扫罗，扫罗，你为什么逼迫我？”
5他说：“主啊，你是谁？”主说：“我就是你所逼迫的耶稣。
6起来！进城去，你所当做的事，必有人告诉你。”
7同行的人站在那里，说不出话来，听见声音，却看不见人。
8扫罗从地上起来，睁开眼睛，竟不能看见什么。有人拉他的手，领他进了大马士革。
9三日不能看见，也不吃也不喝。
20就在各会堂里宣传耶稣，说他是神的儿子。
21凡听见的人都惊奇，说：“在耶路撒冷残害求告这名的，不是这人吗？并且他到这里来，特要捆绑他们，带到祭司长那里！”
22但扫罗越发有能力，驳倒住大马士革的犹太人，证明耶稣是基督。
"Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on [Jesus’] name?" - Acts 9:21
Maybe you have heard of the apostle Paul, but did you know he was also named Saul and had a nasty past? He felt that he was doing God’s work by putting Christians in prison, and he even watched approvingly as Stephen was stoned to death (Acts 7:58). Saul began using his Greek name, Paul, when he became a witness for Jesus to Greek-speaking Gentiles (Acts 13:9).
Despite all of Saul’s nasty intentions, Jesus stopped him in his tracks and turned his life around. That was shocking to many of the people who had known Saul before. The Lord changed his life and gave him a new purpose. God would use him powerfully to invite Gentiles (non-Jewish people) into his kingdom.
We can feel spiteful sometimes about people who cause trouble in our lives, but the power of Jesus can transform them from being angry, hateful, and vengeful to sharing God’s love, kindness, and peace.
Imagine how it felt for people who knew the persecutor and then saw him preaching about Jesus as the Savior (Messiah). Saul was proclaiming the grace and power of the one he had fought hardest against.
This is the power of the good news!
God, search me and find any areas in my life that you need to turn around. Help me to see how you want to repurpose my life for your glory. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
