被基督尋見的罪人
使徒行傳九章1至9節
1掃羅仍然向主的門徒口吐威嚇兇殺的話,去見大祭司,
2求文書給大馬士革的各會堂,若是找著信奉這道的人,無論男女,都准他捆綁帶到耶路撒冷。
3掃羅行路,將到大馬士革,忽然從天上發光,四面照著他;
4他就仆倒在地,聽見有聲音對他說:掃羅!掃羅!你為甚麼逼迫我?
5他說:主阿!你是誰?主說:我就是你所逼迫的耶穌。
6起來!進城去,你所當做的事,必有人告訴你。
7同行的人站在那裡,說不出話來,聽見聲音,卻看不見人。
8掃羅從地上起來,睜開眼睛,竟不能看見甚麼。有人拉他的手,領他進了大馬士革;
9三日不能看見,也不吃也不喝。
信息分享
在今天這段簡短的經文中,我們看見三個有趣的問題,它們分別出現在第4,第5和第6節。
第一個問題:出自尋找人的救主。
基督直呼掃羅的名字,我們藉此便知道,早在掃羅不認識基督之前,基督就已經認識他。基督問他:「掃羅!我在哪裡惡待了你?你為甚麼要逼迫我?」原來,掃羅逼迫跟從基督的門徒,在基督眼中就等於逼迫祂自己。
第二個問題:出自驚惶的罪人。
保羅追問:「主啊!你是誰?」他衝口而出,幾乎為自己提供了答案。不過,他從基督口中獲得的答案,更把餘下的疑問一掃而空。基督把自己的名字直接告訴他:「我是耶穌,是你所逼迫的耶穌。」基督的回答,令我們覺得祂好像要進一步說明:「你以為我已經死了?但其實我只是升到天上,與我的父神在一起。祂尊榮我,可是,你卻一直攻擊我。」
保羅震驚非常。基督所講的話若是真,那麼,他過往的行動豈不全都是錯!他現在該怎麼辦呢?這帶出下一個問題。
第三個問題:出自順服的聖徒。
「主啊,我該做甚麼?」(現代版沒有這問題)。保羅此刻清楚聽到基督將要選派他去做甚麼工作(參看徒二十六14)。我們對當中的過程所知不多,但我們卻清楚知道,保羅後來確實依從基督的指派,做祂吩咐的工作。由那天開始,保羅便一生事奉基督。時至今天,保羅的事奉仍一直祝福和幫助我們。
反思:
你若想求神指引你的前路,就必須先立志跟從祂的帶領。
ARRESTED BY CHRIST
Acts 9: 1 - 9
1 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest
2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven.
4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”
Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”
6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”
Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one.
8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.
9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
Message
Every conversion is a miracle. But when the person who is saved has spent his life fighting against Christ and all he stands for, it seems to be an even greater miracle. Paul was like that, yet Christ made him one of the world's greatest missionaries.
In this short passage there are three interesting questions. Notice them in vv. 4, 5 and 6. There is:
1. The question of the seeking Saviour- v.4
Christ called Saul by his name. The Lord knew Paul even if Paul did not know him. 'What wrong have I done to you? Why are you so against me?' asked Christ. Paul had hurt Christ because he had hurt Christ's followers.
2. The question of the surprised sinner
'Who are you, Lord?' asked Paul. He almost answered his own question, didn't he? The answer he received left no doubt as to who was speaking to him. Christ used his own personal name - 'I am Jesus, the one you thought was dead'. It was almost as if the Lord Jesus said, 'I am here in heaven with my Father. He honoured me, but you have been fighting against me.'
Paul was shattered. If this was true, then all he had ever said and done was wrong. What should he do now? This led on to -
3. The question of the submissive saint.
'What do you want me to do, Lord?' (You may not find this questions stated if you are reading one of the modern version.)Paul knew what he was saying and heard clearly what Christ wanted him to do (see also Acts 26:14). There is much we don't know but this we do - Paul did exactly what Jesus told him. There began that day a long life of wonderful service for Christ. We are still being blessed and helped today by the ministry of Paul.
A THOUGHT:
If you ask God for directions, make sure you are willing to follow them.

