Have you ever looked at someone and their actions and say to yourself that the individual has a good heart. Likewise, the actions of another can you with the opposite reactions. It tells us that what we do and say reveals the contents of our heart.
When we examine the actions of Saul of Tarsus, we see a man whose heart was deeply misguided. He was a Pharisee, part of an influential Jewish sect known for strict devotion to the Torah, the Holy Scriptures. Pharisees believed that pleasing God required complete obedience to the Law. They also valued the oral traditions passed down through generations and believed in the resurrection of the dead. The word Pharisee means “separated ones,” and their words and actions often revealed pride and arrogance.
Saul was so zealous about his beliefs that he did everything he could to rid his people of what he considered false teachings about God. When Stephen was attacked, his accusers could find no fault in his conduct, so they made up lies against him. “They took him out of the city and began to throw stones at him to kill him. And those who told lies against Stephen left their coats with a young man named Saul.” (Acts 7:58 NVV). Saul of Tarsus did not stop there. With the high priest’s approval, he went on a rampage against the believers, who lived in fear as he dragged them from their homes and put them in prison. Saul was sincere, but he was wrong about the message of the gospel. He acted from a heart filled with hatred and pride. His actions revealed the condition of his heart, just as our actions reveal the condition of ours.
Thought for Today: Friend, examine the condition of your heart.
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