When Saul of Tarsus concluded that the Lord God was the source of the sudden flashing light that put him on the ground, and that the Lord was Jesus whose followers he was severely persecuting (Acts 9:3-5), he did not debate. In fact, when he testified of the event later in Acts 22, Saul (now Paul) simply asked: What shall I do, Lord?”
“And the Lord said to me, ‘Arise and go into Damascus; and there you will be told of all that has been appointed for you to do’” Acts 22:10).
Again, no debate by Saul – despite being blinded by the light, he obeyed Jesus’ command and went to Damascus to receive instruction. He did not consider how he would answer his fellow Pharisees and other Jewish leaders whom he had joined in opposing Jesus and His followers, or what it might mean for his reputation and well-being. His only concern now was to obey his Lord.
Two simple questions asked by Saul: 1) Who are You, Lord? and 2) What shall I do, Lord? – became the driving passion of his life until his death. Knowing Jesus Christ, and obeying His word – the most simple yet profound description of the Christian life! These are summed up beautifully in Jesus’ words to His disciples in John 14:21:
“He who has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me; and he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and will disclose Myself to him.”
What about us? Have we made the Christian life complicated, or have we ordered our lives so that the first things are first: knowing Jesus Christ, and obeying His word.