被基督寻见的罪人
使徒行传九章1至9节
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!你为甚么逼迫我?
5他说:主阿!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,竟不能看见甚么。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。
信息分享
在今天这段简短的经文中,我们看见三个有趣的问题,它们分别出现在第4,第5和第6节。
第一个问题:出自寻找人的救主。
基督直呼扫罗的名字,我们借此便知道,早在扫罗不认识基督之前,基督就已经认识他。基督问他:「扫罗!我在哪里恶待了你?你为甚么要逼迫我?」原来,扫罗逼迫跟从基督的门徒,在基督眼中就等于逼迫祂自己。
第二个问题:出自惊惶的罪人。
保罗追问:「主啊!你是谁?」他冲口而出,几乎为自己提供了答案。不过,他从基督口中获得的答案,更把余下的疑问一扫而空。基督把自己的名字直接告诉他:「我是耶稣,是你所逼迫的耶稣。」基督的回答,令我们觉得祂好像要进一步说明:「你以为我已经死了?但其实我只是升到天上,与我的父神在一起。祂尊荣我,可是,你却一直攻击我。」
保罗震惊非常。基督所讲的话若是真,那么,他过往的行动岂不全都是错!他现在该怎么办呢?这带出下一个问题。
第三个问题:出自顺服的圣徒。
「主啊,我该做甚么?」(现代版没有这问题)。保罗此刻清楚听到基督将要选派他去做甚么工作(参看徒二十六14)。我们对当中的过程所知不多,但我们却清楚知道,保罗后来确实依从基督的指派,做祂吩咐的工作。由那天开始,保罗便一生事奉基督。时至今天,保罗的事奉仍一直祝福和帮助我们。
反思:
你若想求神指引你的前路,就必须先立志跟从祂的带领。
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.

