SAUL: Have we been like Saul?
Have we been persecuting those who keep our Father's Way that His Son kept?
Saul loved YHWH and as an avid student under Gamaliel he wanted to honor the Father through the Pharisaical tradition. He kept His Father's ways. He loved Him so much that He went after those who were following the condemned 'Messiah Yahshua' and persecuted them. He thought he was doing what was right.
(And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,) I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward YHWH, as ye all are this day. And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished. And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And I answered, Who art thou, Master? And he said unto me, I am Yahshua of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me. And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do. And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus. And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. And he said, The Elohim of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of Yahshua.
And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance; And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me. And I said, Yahshua, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee: And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him. And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles. -Ma'aseh (Acts) 22:1-21
Saul thought he was doing what was right
until the scales came off from his eyes!
So too, we from the church had thought we were doing right by condemning the law and saying it was done away and we zealously fought for grace and persecuted any notion of keeping the law.
But, HalleluYHWH!
He is gracious and merciful and His faithfulness
endures to all generations! -Tehillim 100:5
He was generous toward Saul and He is generous toward us also.
May the scales come off from our eyes
in full that we may see
that The Father's law is good and perfect
to the converting of the soul!
-Tehillim 19:7
We must keep the law through Yahshua- the way He kept it is how we go to the Father.
FROM A PURE HEART OF LOVE! ~Leslie Ann Songs Of Leslie Ann