Acts 9:1-19
Have you ever said, “if it had been a snake, it would have bitten me,” after looking for something and finding it right in front of you? Researchers call this phenomenon Intentional Blindness. It’s when you are so focused on something that there could be an elephant in the room, and you wouldn’t see it. As I was reading this sermon’s text, I wondered if Jesus had chosen a less remarkable way of reaching Saul, would Saul have paid attention. I don’t think he would have because I believe that Saul had intentional blindness. He was so intent on persecuting Christians that Jesus had to be dramatic.
The conversion of Saul is probably the most famous conversion ever made. Every believer has heard the story of Saul’s transformation, and most know far more details of it than they do of the Ethiopian we talked of the week before last. I thought I knew this story, but God showed me a new way to look at it this week. While I generally love it when that happens, he two-stepped over my toes and onto my heart this time.