The Great Fifty Days of Easter - Day 5 - April 5th

Day 5 - April 5th

Me

1 Corinthians 15: 8 (NIV)

 ...and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

 

Today we continue to look at Jesus' appearances before his ascension into heaven.  Paul's account of how he felt about Jesus' appearance to him is probably the most important to us.  Like Paul, we did not walk with Jesus while he was alive on this earth.  Refamiliarize yourself with Paul's conversion story in Acts 9:1-19.  Paul was blinded by a flash from heaven, and then heard the voice of Jesus speaking to him.  The story continues as Ananias is visited by Jesus in a dream.  Jesus tells him to find Saul (Paul) and heal him from his blindness.  When Ananias resists because of the stories of Saul's cruelty to Christians, Jesus tells him that Saul is his "chosen instrument" to proclaim the Good News to the Gentiles and the people of Israel.

Paul's reference to himself being "one abnormally born" was a testament to the fact that he was not one of the original Twelve and, because of his former life as a Pharisee, his hatred for Jesus and his followers prevented him from knowing the true Jesus.  It was not until his experience on the road to Damascus and his healing that he received the grace of God's salvation and was able to understand the impact that Jesus had on the lives of those who walked with him and learned from him.

I imagine that the words of the chorus of Brandon Heath's song "Give Me Your Eyes" (from the album "What If We," words by Brandon Heath and Jason Ingram, recorded by Capitol Christian Music) says exactly how Paul felt when his sight was restored:

Give me Your eyes for just one second
Give me Your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me Your love for humanity
Give me Your arms for the broken-hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me Your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me Your eyes so I can see

As you read today's verse and Acts 9:1-19, think about the word "me."  How do you relate your faith journey to Paul's experience of being a believer who did not walk with Jesus personally.  Does it matter to you?  How do you reconcile your belief of something that you've never experienced, touched, heard, or seen?  How would you explain it to a non-believer?

Prayer:

Breathe in:  Forgiving Father...

Breathe out:  give me Your eyes, Your love, Your arms, and Your heart that I might be You to the world.