Saul has an encounter with Jesus, and he will never be the same again. That’s what conversion is supposed to be. It’s not a decision to read the Bible or go to church. It’s your old life ending and a new life beginning. It’s leaving forever the kingdom of darkness and entering the kingdom of God’s Beloved Son, the kingdom of Light. It’s forsaking self and choosing Love.

We grow from glory to glory, being transformed into Christ’s image, but there is also a moment of instant change. We become new. We are converted.

Saul (also called Paul, which was his Roman name and meant “small”) has an encounter with the glory of God. His glory is manifested by light.

The men with Paul also hear God’s voice. They aren’t hearing thunder like we see at other places in the Bible. They hear the voice and it says, “I am Jesus.”

Jesus says that Saul is persecuting Him. Saul has been persecuting the Church. When people are hurting and persecuting you, they are doing it to Jesus. Jesus says, “Whatever you do to the least of these brethren of Mine, you do to Me.” He is with you. You are not alone in your suffering.

Saul responds appropriately for his situation. Saul humbles himself. God has helped him to it by blinding him. Humility is relying on the Lord and not self. Saul knows there’s no escaping this except by the hand of God. He goes on an absolute complete fast and waits on the Lord.

Saul takes the advice of Lamentations 3:28. “Let him sit alone and keep silent, because God has laid it on him.” And he was probably hoping for Lamentations 3:31-32. “For the Lord will not cast off forever. Though He causes grief, yet He will show compassion according to the multitude of His mercies.”

God will show compassion. God loves Saul. He loved Saul when He stopped him in his tracks and struck him blind. It was a gift.