Acts 9-11: Have you had a total change since you came to know the Lord? Saul is a great example of a life totally changed. Prior to His experience on the road to Damascus he worked hard to annihilate the people who followed Jesus’ teachings. He even held the coats as Stephen the first Christian martyr was killed. He considered himself righteous because he was doing what he thought God would have him do. When he was blinded by the light on the road to Damascus it became evident that what he thought was right was not. Jesus was the true Son of God. Paul immediately had a change of heart and mind. During those days of blindness I wonder if it was a time of catharsis where he reconsidered all his life had been about. When the scales fell from his eyes he was a changed man from the inside out. His changed in vision resulted in a change of action. He no longer persecuted people but now tried to convince them of the truth of God’s Son. As he preached some refused to befriend him thinking he must be playing games to entrap them. Barnabas was one of the first of the Christian leaders outside of Damascus to befriend and serve alongside Paul.
So what does this have to do with us? When God calls us to be His own He expects us to change from the inside out as well. Our sins are forgiven and we change from doing things how we think is right to what He says is right. It isn’t easy, but to walk right with God it means we choose to put away airway to walk in His. This life change isn’t just for a season, but forever. That is why we can say we die to self in order to live in Him!