“…the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
The subject of love is just a concept or an emotion, a thought or a practice, until it becomes personal and real. The Apostle Paul lived a great part of his life not knowing what love was. This all changed when he was brought face to face with it. On that day, the overwhelming and perceptible discovery was that there was Someone whom he did not know, but who knew him, and loved him. Though we find no mention in the Scriptures what was going on in the heart of Saul of Tarsus at that point of meeting, the result of Christ revealing and speaking to him, we do catch a glimpse of the love of God in the manner by which Christ addressed him. Saul is confronted blatantly, and overwhelmingly, with an invisible person, the countenance of whom was blinding. The first words of this Almighty One who possessed the power and authority to remove Saul from the earth, were the following: “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me? (Acts 9:4) Saul realizes first that he is known by the Person of the revelation. This is emphasized by the fact that the Lord calls him twice by name. And then comes the question, which begins to crack the hard, unbelieving heart of Saul: “Why?” Christ, who knows Saul fully, appeals to the profoundly inquisitive mind of Saul. But this is not enough to put Saul on track for the greatest discovery of his life, that being, the love of Christ, and as he put it: “…who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Jesus would specifically ask Saul, “…Why persecutest thou Me?” Immediately, before this vision, blinding light, and clear voice of the One who calls his name, a convicting, menacing reality appears. The declared persecution of this One, wholly and Divine, Almighty and all knowing, is overwhelming. It is to this declaration that Saul asks: “Who art Thou, Lord?” It is at this point that this great man, from a human standpoint, is brought face to face with something so personal, someone so overwhelmingly mighty and knowing, and yet, someone who is willing to meet Saul and address him by his name, that the knowledge of truth will begin to set him free. Jesus’ answer was very simple, very powerful, and very direct: “I am Jesus whom thou persecutest; it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.” (Acts 9:5) Saul’s journey to know the love of Christ had now begun. The crack in the hard resistance of his heart began to grow and extend. Saul’s world had come to a standstill, as he was confronted with that which was eternally dominant. We see by his reaction, trembling, and overwhelmed in astonishment, that the effect of the vision, and the words of Christ, had accomplished their purpose. Saul was changed that day, later to become Paul the Apostle of Christ. The power would soon be given to Saul by the Spirit, so that this man could begin his primary pursuit on this earth, of something eternal and Divine. He would write, in his letter to the Philippians, of this singular pursuit: “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.” (3:8) To the Ephesian believers, he would later write a prayer, part of which was this: ” (that ye)…may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” (3:18,19)
In the Song of Solomon we read, “…if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be rejected.” (8:7) Paul’s great discovery was that Christ loved him, and in love, lost all, to win him. It is this same love that came to Saul that day, that comes to us this day, in its depthless wonder and power.
Dear Father, Give us this love of Christ by which to live. In Jesus’ name, Amen.