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"Behold, he prayeth "- is there anything really striking about that? Ought not all lovers of righteousness to pray in times of need and extremity? All, yes! but this occasion is different - and extraordinary!

The speaker was the Risen Lord; the hearer, Ananias; the subject, the persecuting Saul; the place Damascus. (Acts 9. 11).

Some few days prior to this episode, Saul had left Jerusalem, armed with Sanhedrin authority, and accompanied by an escort of Temple guards, for Damascus in the far north, to apprehend and take in bonds to Jerusalem every follower of the Lord he could lay violent hands upon. News of his coming had preceded him, and the little company of believing saints, knowing what had over-taken brethren in Jerusalem, awaited with dread the arrival of this wolf into their midst, knowing there would be neither clemency nor mercy for any whom he might find of "that way".

But as Saul rode on expectantly, exultantly, the thing which a watchful Providence had ordained took place! The blistering mid-day sun turned pale as a heavenly radiance intervened! The very instant of time ordained by Providence had come, and He who angled to take this fish came nigh to sweep up his "catch"! The days for "playing out the line" had expired, and One from the Heavenly Throne had come near to wield the net.

How piercingly penetrating the challenge request, intended for no ear but his own! "Why persecutest thou Me". , "Who art thou, Lord".. . "I am Jesus". Then it was true, unquestionably true, what these men in Jerusalem had said about the Nazarene! Oh, the horror of the situation in which he now found himself; he had separated man and wife; he had violently compelled some to blaspheme; he had consented to send one good man to untimely death. And here, clothed with more than solar-radiance, was the exalted Lord and Master of the suffering flock!

Gone was the gaiety and self-assurance of the morning hours, as now with blinded eyes and smitten conscience he drags along to go into the city where co-conspirator and victim alike await his coming!

Three days and nights, without food or drink, the inner conflict raged. No former friend or counsellor could be of help in this hour of need. All his past life, particularly the recent past, would rise up before him and taunt him with its futility! Despite intense zeal, he had missed the objects of his soul's desire. . . yet Stephen, a man he could not recall to life, had found all the best it had to give.

Back and forth, from the old things to the new, from the authority of Moses to the exaltation of the Christ, his poor struggling mind would pass, as he attempted to weigh up the values each appeared to possess, until at last his wearied frame, faint from lack of food, and worn out from its internal strain, sank to its knees, and his faltering lips and stammering tongue began to pray!

He had capitulated; the besieging Lord had stormed the fortress of his soul, and was now triumphant there! The battle had been fought and lost . . and won!

And so the compassionate and dominating Lord, desiring to soothe every needless pain, commissions Ananias to "go to the street called Straight, . . and enquire. . for a man of Tarsus called Saul, for behold he prayeth", "Behold he prayeth"—not in the ancient city of Jerusalem, not with priest or sacrifice attending him, but here, in his darkened room, in this city of Damascus, and with no comfort or help at hand. What a prayer that must have been, as all the flood-gates of his soul were broken down, and all its bitter contents gushed forth in penitence and remorse! How the angels who had watched the long-drawn conflict must have rejoiced at a sinner so sincerely repenting of his former misguided way! And who can tell, or even attempt to tell, what that prostrated form and penitential prayer meant to the supervising Lord?

Never after throughout his whole life did the memories of those days and nights fade from his recollection—they were not intended so to fade—for, first to himself, and then, through him to countless thousands of a later day, it was intended to teach that "Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners; and I am the foremost of sinners; but I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience for an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life." (1 Tim. 1. 15- 16).

Not always does the Lord of life and glory come forth in that majestic way to intercept and turn to himself those who misguidedly were seeking the "best" along wrong and improper lines. That He has providentially intercepted such people in his own acceptable way is a truth to which thousands could testify.

That there is an act of Providence in the direction of a word, a phrase, a tract, a book, a visit, a journey, or even an illness, is a fact that none conversant with his way would dare deny. Thousands on thousands could joyfully say:

It is not for everyone to plumb the depths of the subterranean experience as did our brother Paul, for few could withstand the strain. But unnumbered thousands have learned through him, of a Saviour's love and long-suffering of their waywardness, before they bent in lowly penitence before him and prayed their first prayer.

Paul never ceased, throughout life's little day, to remind himself of that tender love which followed him all those headstrong, wayward days, till at last it broke in upon him and brought him face to face with the stern realities of life - and won his heart and soul for ever.

March & April

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