WEEK ONE 
TITLE: PAUL, AN APOSTLE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
February 14–February 17

Lent is a perfect opportunity for each of us to participate in a “big picture” survey of our lives by spending time reflecting on where we currently find ourselves regarding our life in Christ. By recalling what we were before encountering Christ—where we started, how God has miraculously worked and led us in our spiritual sojourn throughout the years, and specific goal-oriented desires we have for becoming more Christlike, we can “press on to maturity” (Hebrews 6:1). Author Scott Hahn writes, “I consider Lent a mercy, because it reminds me of where I was, how far I’ve come—and how much further God wants me to go!”

During these first four days of Lent, we focus on an overview of Paul’s personal testimony, starting with the account of his dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus that he gave before King Agrippa, the reigning Jewish monarch and great-grandson of Herod the Great. On day two, Paul recounts his feelings of unworthiness for persecuting Christ and his church but rejoices in the grace God bestowed on him as the apostle transitioned from murdering believers to being one of the most ardent witnesses to the life-changing power of Christ the world has ever seen. On day three, Paul acknowledges that he cherishes absolutely nothing in this life any longer—with the one exception of knowing Christ. We ponder Paul’s ardent and intimate prayer of longing to truly “know Christ and the power of his resurrection” (Philippians 3:10). Day four finds Paul near the end of his earthly life, reflecting over his years of ministry and service: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).

As we start our Lenten journey together, it might be important to remember that the best days are yet to come regarding our relationship with Christ. “It’s not how well you begin the race,” someone once quipped, “but rather, how you finish it!” 

Day 1 - Wednesday, February 14
ASH WEDNESDAY
Title:  PAUL’S TESTIMONY BEFORE KING AGRIPPA
Scripture: Acts 26:4–23 (NKJV)
“My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know. They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers. To this promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. For this hope’s sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews. Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead? 

“Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

“While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ 

“Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. For these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come—that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”

Poetry & Poet:
“The Conversion of Saul Reimagined as a Scene in a Western”
by Melissa Range

Shot from the saddle, Saul, in his white ten-gallon,
toppled, dazzled, into a spur of cactus,
the resulting ruckus worthy of a saloon.
They heard it all the way up in Damascus:

the other cowpokes spooked and bucked and cussing,
the mustangs making an ached-for break for it,
the cattle scattered just past lassoing,
Saul firing blind beneath the high-noon light.

Best hand in your badge, hoss, came the drawl.
Ain’t room for the two of us in any town.
And just who are you? yelled Saul,
as someone zinged his Colt onto the ground,

reloaded, then slugged him six times in the chest.
Beloved, I’m the rustler of your heart of hearts.
The voice slunk into Saul like blood into the dust.
I’m the burr in your rump, the Law in these parts.

Left for the closing credits and for dead,
Saul woke without a horse, without a gun
without a scratch, a black hat by his head --
an outlaw, an apostle, a changed and wanted man

THE CONVERSION OF ALL CONVERSIONS!

The conversion of Saul, persecutor of Christians, to Paul, evangelist, and apostle to the Gentiles, is one of (if not) the most dramatic and well-known transformations in Christian history. It is the “gold standard,” if you will, of conversions. When I was a young man studying at the Word of Life Bible Institute in upstate New York, it was common for the administration to invite students to share their conversion stories. I noticed a pattern, at least among those asked to share: these people had crazy lives and now they are born-again Christians. My conversion story was less dramatic, so I was never asked to share. If Paul from Tarsus was a student there and had been asked to share his conversion story, not only would it have come across as utterly “of God,” but it would have easily put everyone else’s experience to shame.

But the point of the Apostle Paul’s conversion narrative as given in the Acts of the Apostles was not for himself alone, to have a good story to tell––though it is a great story! Nor was his story necessarily meant to encourage those of us reading it centuries later––though it should encourage us! Rather, Paul’s conversion story points us to God and the work that God is doing in our lives, a work pictured as light in Caravaggio’s painting and as “The voice” that “slunk into Saul like blood into the dust” in Range’s poem.

By the world’s standards Paul was doing fine for himself when God broke into his life and gave him something better. Perhaps not all of us are doing so well, and perhaps some of us doubt that God is really all that interested in giving us something better. Perhaps we find ourselves on this Ash Wednesday already within a deep Lenten experience, feeling lonely, unloved, and perhaps even knocked about by things well out of our control. Perhaps we think that if we are merely dust and to dust, we will return (Gen. 3:19), then why not just desire that it would happen sooner than later. If that is where you are at then know that, like Paul, God can/will break into your life, dramatically and set it aright. In fact, he may be doing that secretly even now, or perhaps he will do so over the course of this year’s Lent. God is in the business of making folks new, so let us eagerly expect that he will make us new too! And what a great story of his goodness it will be.

Prayer
God, you hate nothing you have made, and you forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
  ––Book of Common Prayer 2019

Dr. Greg Peters
Professor of Medieval and Spiritual Theology
Torrey Honors College
Biola University
Vicar of Anglican Church of the Epiphany, La Mirada

For more information about the artwork, music, and poetry selected for this day, we have provided resources under the “About” tab located next to the “Devotional” tab.