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1. And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,Act 9:1, KJV. This Saul is the same man who looked over the belongings of the men that stoned Stephen. Saul, a Pharisee, having letters to the synagogues, left for Damascus to bring followers of Christ, bound in chains, unto Jerusalem. And on his way, he heard a voice from heaven saying, "Saul, why do you persecute Me?" And he replied, "Who are you, Lord?" And the Lord replied, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting." Saul responded, "What do You want me to do?" Jesus told Saul, "Go into the city, and you will be told what to do." And Saul was three days without sight, neither did he eat nor drink. And Jesus had told Ananias in the city to put his hand on Saul, that he may receive his sight. And as Ananias prayed for Saul, there fell from his eyes scales, and he could see, and was baptized. No longer being blind of who Jesus really was. And he went now into the synagogues and preached Christ, that He is the Son of God. And the people had a hard time believing because they knew the damage Saul did to anyone who called on the name of Christ in Jerusalem. The lesson to be learned: God's grace and mercy truly changes people into someone others who knew them will not recognize. Your past will become a testimony, and your new life will be a witness of Jesus's love. No one is beyond the reach of God's grace. Conversion brings obedience. God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things, and suffering is a part of the calling; it is not a sign of being abandoned. Amen.