January 30, 2014 (Thursday)
Years ago there was a man in a wheelchair who attended the county fair. He bought his ticket and proceeded to the gate, but the gate was not wide enough for the wheelchair. About that time the Sheriff came along and, observing that the gatekeeper seemed unmoved by the disabled man’s problem, lifted his booted foot and kicked down the gate. Problem solved. *
We are studying the life and ministry of the Apostle Paul on Wednesday evenings. Before his conversion, he was Saul of Tarsus, a dedicated Jewish leader who believed that those who accepted Jesus of Nazareth as the promised Messiah were heretics. In a dramatic, supernatural encounter Jesus met Saul and this man who had been attempting to rid the world of this new faith became its chief proponent and defender. He came to understand that Jesus was doing what the sheriff in the story above did: He kicked down the gate that separated Jew and Gentile, making salvation available to everyone in the world.
Paul later wrote to the Ephesians: “For Christ himself has brought us peace by making Jews and Gentiles one people. With his own body he broke down the wall that separated them and kept them enemies” (Ephesians 2:14 GNT). Paul spent the rest of his life spreading this joyous word that Jesus Christ is the key to peace in the hearts of people throughout the world.
As the angels announced long ago, God has sent us a Savior who can bring peace and good will among all of us on earth if we accept him by faith as Lord of our lives.
* (You can read the full story on the web at Bible.org by clicking here).