“And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.’” – Acts 26:15
Before Saul (Paul) met Jesus on the road to Damascus, he was 100% certain he was serving the Lord. He was also 100% wrong. He was, in fact, fighting the Lord. Saul knew SO much and yet missed everything. He knew the Old Testament inside and out but completely missed how it all pointed to Jesus. His mind was razor sharp but his heart was hard as a rock and his spirit failed to see God at work all around him. Saul was confident he loved the Lord more than just about anyone, but completely missed the ultimate expression of God’s love in sending His Son into the world.
Can that happen today? Absolutely. We may immediately think of radical adherents of other faiths who wrongly believe they’re honoring God by persecuting Christians. They are a prime example. However the reality is that Christians can also find themselves acting like Saul before he met Jesus. We can know a lot of Scripture and doctrine while completely missing the heart of Jesus. We can know the facts but fail to walk in the Spirit. We can think we’re defending the faith while speaking and acting in ways that utterly dishonor Christ.
Jesus was very clear that a day would come when many people would cry out to Him, presenting their Christian credentials, and explaining all they’d done in His name. But they never knew Him and will forever remain outside His kingdom. Despite their Christian knowledge and impressive accomplishments. Be very careful that you don’t end up merely knowing about Jesus. Know Him! Love Him and keep falling more deeply in love with Him. Take seriously what He taught and commanded. Don’t make excuses for why His hardest teachings don’t apply to you. Instead, prayerfully seek to speak His love, show His grace, practice His mercy, hold firmly to His patience, and value His justice. Care about what and who Jesus cares out: the lost, the least, the outcast, the suffering, the vulnerable, the hopeless. #FollowJesus