Not so long ago while discussing Scripture in Sunday school, I made a quick reference to Saul and his early persecution of those who were believing in Jesus and how he had been “knocked off his horse,” only to find himself confronted by no-other than Jesus, the One he was actually persecuting. We weren’t studying Acts 9, rather a text in Romans, and a few moments later a very observant and faithful gentleman remarked that he had one question, “Where was Saul’s horse?” After an awkward silence I asked him to clarify his question and he did, “Pastor just said that Saul had been knocked off his horse.
I can’t find the horse.”
We quickly turned to Acts 9. And to quote from verses 3 - 4 to be on the safe side, “Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’” Sure enough, there was no horse! He was just on his way, it doesn’t say how. Of course, I apologized. But here I was, dumbfounded at how easy it was for me to use a slip of the tongue to add to what God had intended to give.
Scary, huh?
God’s Word is hard to handle and we shouldn’t take it lightly, rather we should take the greatest care in fear of our Lord when handing it to another. We are reminded in James 3:1: “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you knowthat we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.”
God means what He says and He doesn’t want any of us messing with His Word.
He doesn’t want us to add to it or take away from it.
When something is wrong, we call it what it is. When something is good, we call it that. For those of us who teach God’s Word, we will give an account and we better take it serious.
What about that horse?
I’ve thought long and hard about that. Being “knocked off your horse” has always been a saying in Western culture that meant being humbled and brought down to where you belong.
I sure was! (Actually, I am daily.) But I turn to God’s Word to be comforted by the fact that God meets me where I am and calls me His own, for He has redeemed me with the blood of His Son Jesus Christ for my forgiveness and that by His mercy I could gently, and faithfully, take His Word to His people. Thank God I’m forgiven, but I still have to be careful. And I’ll tell you what, I don’t think I’ll be talking anymore about Saul’s horse.
◊◊◊
Editor’s note: Neil Vanderbush is the pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church, Pea Ridge. He can be contacted at P.O. Box 555, Pea Ridge, AR 72751, or by e-mail at [email protected].
Church, Pages 2 on 09/29/2010