Here is something that stuck out to me today, but could easily be over looked if just focusing on Paul’s conversion story as a whole. I paused in my reading to think about those early believers Paul mentioned when he was sharing his testimony.
These are estimate dates, but it is believed that Jesus died around 33 AD, Stephan was martyred for his faith around 34 AD and Pauls’ conversion happened around 34-36 AD.
So the new Christians were happy for about a year….and then needed to flee for their lives! That is crazy commitment!…An attribute that is kind’a lost on us these days.
Would Christians today in the US stick to their beliefs if persecution picked up after a short period of time in their “glory days” of new belief?
Following Jesus requires crazy commitment……these early believers were great examples for us ~ crazy commitment is required almost immediately!!
Wow, good thoughts on that. I'm wondering if I would have stayed so committed- but maybe it would have been easier when I was a new "on fire" Christian than in the middle when I drifted away.
I think "crazy commitment" is present when it is a real commitment. If commitment wanes.....maybe that is one in the processes of developing into a real commitment. That process can be quite long for some.