The Big Change: The Story of Sha'ul/Paul - NCCG.ORG Ning Network Archive 2008-10

THE BIG CHANGE
by Linda Sue Pochodzay Edwards

Jenny and Joey sat in the grass, watching the glass jar intently.
At any moment, the butterfly should break completely out of the
cocoon. It had been such a long time since they caught the
caterpillar and placed it in the jar. They had taken especially
good care of it and watched as it wrapped itself up inside the
cocoon. Now it was finally time for the caterpillar to emerge with
its brand new set of wings.

How exciting it was to watch the cocoon crack open and see the
butterfly begin its struggle for its new life! Sometimes it wiggled
and jiggled as it worked to become free. Other times it remained
motionless as it gathered strength to try again.

THEN IT HAPPENED! They were able to see both wings of the lovely
butterfly as it dropped completely out of the cocoon. WHAT A BIG
CHANGE from the fuzzy caterpillar that had been placed in the jar
so long ago!

* * *

Saul was an angry man who did not like Christians at all. He yelled
and screamed at them. He made nasty threats. He beat them and
sometimes even killed them. Saul was definitely not a man anyone
would want to try to befriend.

On this particular day, Saul was traveling to the city of Damascus.
He wanted the leaders of the city to give him permission to hurt
more Christians. As he and his friends were making their way along
the dusty road, discussing what they were going to say to the
leaders, and bragging about how happy they would be to receive
permission to persecute the Christians . . .

SUDDENLY . . .

...from out of heaven, came the brightest light Saul had ever seen.
The light surrounded Him. He tried to cover his eyes to shield the
light, but it was so bright that it still hurt his eyes. He fell
down on the ground trying to get away from it.

Then he heard a voice. It was unlike any voice he had ever heard,
saying, "SAUL! SAUL! Why do you want to persecute me?"

Saul, not recognizing the voice, said, "Who are you?"

The answer came back, "I am Yah'shua."

Of course, Saul was terribly afraid. He was shaking and trembling
and could hardly speak. In a weak voice he said, "Lord, what should
I do?"

Yah'shua replied, "Go into the city, and someone will meet you and
tell you what to do."

The friends that were with him were astonished! They didn't see the
light. They didn't see a person. They only heard the voice. They
didn't have a clue what was happening!

When Saul was able to get up off the ground, he uncovered his eyes,
but he couldn't see anything. His friends had to hold his hands and
lead him into the city of Damascus. The light was so bright it had
blinded him. For three whole days he couldn't see anything at all.

* * *

While all of this was happening on the road outside the city of
Damascus, something else was happening inside the city.

The Christians were becoming fearful because they had heard that
Saul was on his way. They knew he was a cruel man that didn't like
them. They knew what terrible things he had done to other
Christians and they were getting quite worried.

There was a Christian man named Ananias who loved Yahweh very
much. Yahweh spoke to him in a vision, telling him to go down the
street to find Saul. Now, Ananias had heard all the stories about
Saul and he wasn't very fond of this plan. Ananias spoke to the
Lord: "What if he hurts me? What if he even wants to KILL me? Are
you sure about this, Lord?" I'm sure we all can understand Ananias'
hesitation to go out and find Saul!

Yahweh spoke to Ananias again, reassuring him that everything
would be fine. Ananias found the house where Saul was staying and
went in for a visit. While he was there, he prayed for Saul and the
blindness left him. Yahweh healed him so he could see again.

Saul stayed in Damascus with the Christians. He became good friends
with them and learned from them. It wasn't long before Saul became
a preacher teaching people about Yah'shua. Everyone was amazed! They
couldn't believe that this was the same person that had hated them
so much and wanted to kill them.

WHAT A WONDERFUL CHANGE!

THINK!

Does Yah'shua only care about good people?
What was the BIG CHANGE that happened to Saul?
Can anyone change or just some people?

A VERSE TO LEARN

"...If any man be in Messiah, he is a new creature..."
(2 Corinthians 5:17a).

REMEMBER

Even though people are mean, Yahwehstill loves them and can help them
to change.

LET'S PRAY

****************************************************
Dear Yahweh, thank You for loving each one of us
even though we don't deserve Your love. Help us
to love others even when they are mean and do not
remember that You can change anyone.
In Yah'shua's Name. Amen.
****************************************************

CAN YOU FIND THIS STORY IN THE BIBLE?
Acts 9:1-12

You can view this Bible story in full color with pictures and
resources to go along with the story at
http://www.childrenschapel.org/biblestories/saul.html

Text version Bible story entry page for the blind/deaf and
vision impaired:
http://www.childrenschapel.org/bibstory2txt.html

Purchase the WHOLE Website by clicking here