Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-08
Sunday School Lesson
Rev. Hugh T. Stevenson.

cause OF the marvellous change in his
life He Immediately recognized JESUS
as his Lord, and by his petition. Lord,
what wilt thou have me to do?" revealed
his desire TO serve Him. Hsnceforth he
could say, perhaps as no other could,
For me TO live is Christ" Everything
in connection with his life henceforth
was centered in trying to do the will
and work of the Lord Jesus. While no
two conversions are alike, for no two
I have had the same personality, there is
one element that marks all true con-
versions. The changes in the lives of
those who were born and reared in a
Christian home could not be like those
Of Saul, yet whsn the change comes in
the life of any soul, the evidence of
their conversion is seen in their desire
to recognize the Lordship of their Sa-
vior by doing His will and work in the
world
SaulS conversion was marked BY a
blindness that may have left it's mark
with him. as the thorn on the flesh. Just
as Jacob carried about with him his
limp to recall his wrestling with the
Lord. T'he great deeps of Saul's soul
had been stirred. During the next three
days, while he prayed for light he with
out doubt recalled the mistakes ha had
made in prosecuting the followers Of
the Lord Jesus. He had problems to
solve that demanded time for medita-
| ton. research and restating the truth
of the Old Testament.
Convert Commissioned.
Disciples in Damascus dreaded SauTs
arrival, believing that it would mean
continuation OF the horrors and suf-
ferings that had marked the work he
had performed in prosecuting them in
Jerusalem One of them was surprised
by being ordered in a vision to visit
Saul and give him sight He was re-
assured by the statement that he was
praying Jesus had assured Saul that he
would learn IN Damascus what he must
do. Three days he had suffered the tor
lures of an awakened conscience. and
prayer furnished the only source of help
to the distracted soul, who found peace
through the fellowship and communion
with his risen Savior and Lord
Ananias found Saul under the lead
ership Of the Holy Spirit. He addressed
him as Brother Saul" The news that
he was messenger from the Lord
Jesus. whom Saul had seen on his way
to Damascus thrilled the former per-
secutor. The promise of sight cheered
him, and the assurance of the gift of
the Holy Spirit meant an equipment of
power from above for service Inmedi-
ately the mission of Ananias was full
filled. scales fell from Saul's eyes and
his sight was restored. He made a pro-
fession of his faith by being baptized
and confessing Jesus Christ as the Son
of God
Saul'S conversion was a proof Of the
genuineness of Christianity He would
never have changed his life and labor
except for the facts we have consid-
cred. He discovered later that God
! had separated him from his mothers
womb and called him through grace"
Christ called for Saul to enter the min
istry at an hour when the young
church needed an intellectual giant who
, could interpret Christianity to the non
Jewish world. Saul, by his birth, edu-
cation and experience, was especially
fitted for this task; a Roman citizen
by birth, as we'll as a Hebrew of the
Hebrews. He spent his early days in the
, City of Tarsus where he learned his
trade and came in contact with Greek
culture through the university that was
located in Tarsus. He had studied I'M
der Gamaliel. who was recognized as
the most enlightened man and teacher
in Jerusalem, SO that Saul soon attained
position of authority among the
scholars Of his nation. Before he con-
cluded his labor for the Lord he would
reap in suffering what he had sowed
but amid all the trials and testings
of his faith he would be loyal 30 the
Lord Jesus, to whom he surrendered
his viii when converted on his way to
Damascus and who commissioned him
as an apostle.