The physician Luke wrote how, “Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven. And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”, and in chapter nine and verse five of the book of Acts Luke shared how Saul asked, “who are you Lord?” where we read:
And he said, Who are you, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom you persecute:
it is hard for you to kick against the pricks.
The verse begins, “And he said, Who are you, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom you persecute:” Luke began with the words, “and he said” which means “and Saul uttered, declared, proclaimed and asked”, “who are you, Lord” or “what person do you exist as One to whom a person or thing belongs about which he has power of deciding; master, and the title given to God the Messiah”? “And the Lord said” which means “and the One to whom a person or thing belongs about which he has power of deciding; master, and the title given to God the Messiah” “I am Jesus” or “I exist as Jesus whose name means Jehovah is Salvation and is the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate” “whom you persecute” which means “that you, Saul, put to flight, trouble and mistreat”. Luke shared how “Saul” asked the “voice” who He was, and the response was that it was God's Son “Jesus” who “Saul” was “troubling and mistreating”.
The verse continues, “it is hard for you to kick against the pricks.” Luke added the words, “it is hard for you” which means “it exists as harsh, rough, offensive and intolerable for you, Saul” “to kick against the pricks” or “to be recalcitrant or strike your heel in opposition to the iron goad, sting or perilous and ruinous resistance”. Luke shared how the “Lord” revealed to “Saul” how difficult it was for him to “strike his heel” in resistance to the “perilous and ruinous” thoughts he incurred.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Saul” asked the “voice” who He was, and discovered it was God's Son “Jesus”. “Jesus” told “Saul” he was “persecuting” Him, and when a person “persecutes” the church of Jesus and His disciples, they “persecute” Him. “Saul”, however, had something more going on that the “Lord Jesus” knew was in his heart and mind. “Goads” were sharp objects used to prod animals that were being stubborn, and for them to move, they needed to “goaded” from time to time. Perhaps “Stephen” asking God not to “lay this sin to their charge” kept going over and over in “Saul's” mind, and he was unable to escape the “goad” of his words. Maybe there was a teaching or visual of “Jesus” being judged, scourged, beaten and crucified that continued in “Saul's” mind, and he could not forget what he saw. Whatever it was, the “Lord Jesus” knew, and “Saul” was made ready to have His life altered. God loves people, and He allows “goads” in their hearts and minds so they will become willing to receive Him when the opportunity arises. Perhaps this writing is a “goad” today, and everyone reading these words have been given the opportunity to be freed by Jesus from it's stinging effect in their lives.
Next time Luke shares how Saul asks, “Lord, what will you have me to do?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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