"Encounter Relationship"

 "Encounter Relationship"

"And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven." Acts 9:3

Saul was on his way to Damascus to persecute any Christians that he found there. But something happened to him before he got there. He had a personal encounter with the Lord Jesus. "And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest ." (v. 5) As a result, Saul's purpose and agenda completely changed. He still went to Damascus but instead of arresting the Christians and persecuting the church, he preached the same message he was trying to destroy and became a Christian himself. "Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God." (vvs.19,20)

Why such a dramatic change in Saul? He was already a religious person. He knew the scriptures and he kept the law. It's one thing to be religious, it is another thing to have a relationship. Saul changed from being just religious to having a relationship with the Lord. This happened when he had a personal encounter with Jesus.

A personal encounter with Jesus is what brings about the change. You can't have a relationship with the Lord based on someone else's experience. Just because your pastor, your parents, your spouse, your friend or your coworker has had an experience with the Lord and is a Christian doesn't mean you are. Just because you were born into a Christian family or hang around Christian people doesn't mean that you have a relationship with the Lord. Just because you sit in church doesn't mean you have a relationship with the Lord- look at Saul. It doesn't happen by "association". It happens by encounter- you have to "meet" Him for yourself.

There were other men who were with Saul when he had his encounter, yet none of them had an encounter with Jesus- and none of them had a change take place in their lives. Have you had this personal, life changing encounter with Jesus? Are you living in relationship with Him or are you just having a religious existence?

Have a great day. A personal encounter with Jesus brings you into a life changing relationship with Him.

For further reading:
Acts 9
Philippians 3:4-8