The Fruits of Our Love

Acs 9: 19-25

“19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength. For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, 20 and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” 21 All who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem among those who invoked this name? And has he not come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?” 22 Saul became increasingly more powerful and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Messiah. 23 After some time had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night so that they might kill him; 25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.”

As soon as Saul regained his strength (and his eyesight) he began to preach the good news of Jesus Christ...in the synagogues.  This surely was a surprise to the Jews that heard him and were not familiar with his conversion to Christianity.  

Have you ever run into anyone who, after having a religious experience (not necessarily Christian), has been drastically changed and they are like a different person?  This has happened to me on several occasions.  Sometimes I wondered if they were sincere and at other times it seemed genuine.

What makes the experience genuine is not really what the person says or professes to believe, it is how they live and act toward others over the course of their lives.

We have the privilege of knowing that Paul’s conversion was real from the beginning in Damascus to the end of his life in Rome.  Through his letters, we know his thoughts, and through the churches he founded we know the fruits of his love.

What is our story?  Will those around us know us through our love? 

And what will be the fruits of our love?

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)