We must go to new converts, whoever they are. Luke is saying the same thing. We perhaps forget about new converts that they’re going to be used in the church, and this was the case for Saul. He’s this unlikely instrument, chosen to proclaim the Lord’s name to the Gentiles, and even to kings, and also to the people of Israel. And verse 16 is striking because it shows us what the Christian life is, and this is especially linked to what we’ve been saying in this point, which is the fact that Saul is united with Jesus in his Christian life. We saw it at the beginning of the chapter, where Jesus said to Saul, “Why are you persecuting me?” To which you can imagine him replying, “I’m not persecuting you. I’m persecuting Christians!” But to the Lord Jesus, it’s the same thing. If you persecute Christians, you are persecuting me. Because every Christian is united to Jesus, and this union to Jesus, which Saul has now experienced, is uttered here when we read that Saul is told that he must suffer for Christ’s name.
So how do we often pray for the persecuted? We pray that they be converted—those of the Islamic State, Boko Haram, and the atheists who hate the church—that they may be changed. We may be called to help them, which will feel hard. The message’s union with Christ is what every Christian experiences, and it’s what we’re calling others to come and be part of. It means suffering. The Christian life is one of suffering. If we are united to Jesus, he was crucified, so it’s likely that we will follow in his footsteps. We may not be literally crucified, but we will suffer as he has. We will never suffer the same punishment as he suffered when Jesus died on the cross. He was being asked to endure all of the wrath of God that we will not have to suffer. But he took it. He took hell—eternal hell on the cross. We will never have to go through that, but there may be physical and spiritual trials that we do have to go through. And we should expect it if we are united to Jesus.
But union with Jesus also means having a new family. It means that people who once hated you will call you brother and sister. It means that you’ll be prayed for. It means that you’ll be given the Holy Spirit. It means that you will be held physically. It means you’ll be baptised. It means being cared for physically. These are some of the amazing things that being united to Jesus brings about.
