"How I yearn for you all"

Philippians 1:8 "For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus."

The author of Philippians is Paul of Tarsus (formerly known as Saul.)  Saul was a persecutor of Christians.  He hated them.  He witnessed and supported the murder of Stephen for his faith in Christ.  Saul had studied the Scriptures thoroughly, and he did not believe that Jesus was the Son of God.


One day, Saul was on the road to Damascus to continue persecuting those following "The Way" (Christians.)  It was then that Jesus literally stopped him in his tracks and asked, "Saul, why are you persecuting me?" in which Saul responded, "Lord, who are you?"  From then on his life changed entirely, and he became a devout follower of Christ.  Paul wrote 13 books of the New Testament, and spent the rest of his life proclaiming the Gospel.  


Only the Lord can change hearts.  I did not have the same care and compassion for people that I do now; especially people I have never met.  It's an indescribable joy.  Where does that joy come from?  It doesn't come from an earthly source.  It comes from a supernatural source- Christ.  He's alive, still changing hearts and still drawing people to himself.  I can testify to that, just like Paul did.