“Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.” Acts 9:8.
On his way to Damascus to arrest followers of Jesus, Saul was struck by a shining light that knocked him to the ground. It was Jesus who manifested Himself through the light in order to confront Saul and change the course of his life forever. Upon getting up, Saul realized that he was blind, and his companions led him to Damascus. Once he arrived, he waited there for what he was to do next, and he did not eat or drink anything for three days. The direction of his life had been radically changed, and with the blindness, he had no idea what adjustments to his life would now be required of him.
I recognize that I didn’t have such a radically life changing moment like Saul, I have had a few occurrences or decisions that changed the course of my life. My marriage and my decision to become a follower of Jesus were two clear moments. A third moment occurred when I was eighteen, and it happened before I was a follower of Jesus. I was in a church service with a girl that I was dating at the time, when I sensed a voice whispering in my ear. I looked around to see who it was and saw no one. The voice stated that he wanted me to go into full time ministry. At the time, I had no idea what that meant, yet as the journey of my life has unfolded, I recognize that this was the voice of Jesus leading the way for me. It was a powerful moment by which I am still impacted – after 40 years.
Questions to consider: When you look back, do you remember any incidents that changed the course of your life forever? What were they? How are you different as a result?
Prayer: Father, thank You for those moments of direction that You use to guide us along the way that we need to walk. Help me to always keep an ear out to hear You and to do what You say. Amen.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
May 21, 2009 - Acts 9:7
“The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone.” Acts 9:7.
While Saul was being confronted by Jesus, who manifested Himself as a powerful, bright light, the men who had come with Saul had no idea what was going on. To paraphrase a thought: some people make it happen, some people get in the way of what is happening, and others wonder, “What’s happening?” These men with Saul were in this last group. They happened to be present at one of the most dramatic moments in the life of the Church over the last 2,000 years – Paul’s conversion – and these men did not have a clue what was going on.
As I sit and ponder this, I reflect on how many times I really did not have much of a clue as to what was going on around me. I was so wrapped up in my own stuff that I was fairly oblivious to important events happening around me. In this passage, Saul was entering into a revolutionary relationship with Jesus, and these men missed it. I wonder how many relationship opportunities I have missed along the way. When I just consider the missed opportunities with my wife and children, I shudder to realize how many I have missed! Then, to think of the missed opportunities of sharing the story of Jesus with those around me, I shudder that much more.
I do not wish to be one who wonders “What’s happening?” I desire to be proactively available to God to make things happen.
Questions to consider – Are you like these men who traveled with Saul in this verse? If so, how? What can you do to make yourself more proactively available to God?
Prayer – Father, help me to be proactively involved and available for Your service. Give me eyes to see where You are moving in this world and the strength and courage to step out and do something. Amen.
While Saul was being confronted by Jesus, who manifested Himself as a powerful, bright light, the men who had come with Saul had no idea what was going on. To paraphrase a thought: some people make it happen, some people get in the way of what is happening, and others wonder, “What’s happening?” These men with Saul were in this last group. They happened to be present at one of the most dramatic moments in the life of the Church over the last 2,000 years – Paul’s conversion – and these men did not have a clue what was going on.
As I sit and ponder this, I reflect on how many times I really did not have much of a clue as to what was going on around me. I was so wrapped up in my own stuff that I was fairly oblivious to important events happening around me. In this passage, Saul was entering into a revolutionary relationship with Jesus, and these men missed it. I wonder how many relationship opportunities I have missed along the way. When I just consider the missed opportunities with my wife and children, I shudder to realize how many I have missed! Then, to think of the missed opportunities of sharing the story of Jesus with those around me, I shudder that much more.
I do not wish to be one who wonders “What’s happening?” I desire to be proactively available to God to make things happen.
Questions to consider – Are you like these men who traveled with Saul in this verse? If so, how? What can you do to make yourself more proactively available to God?
Prayer – Father, help me to be proactively involved and available for Your service. Give me eyes to see where You are moving in this world and the strength and courage to step out and do something. Amen.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
May 14, 2009 - Acts 9:6
“’Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.’” Acts 9:6.
Paul, having been confronted by a powerful, bright light who called Himself Jesus, is now told what he must do next. He is to proceed to Damascus, which was to be his intended destination, but instead of rounding up the followers of Jesus to arrest them, he was instructed to wait for what he was to do next.
It seems to me that Saul was a hard-charging individual who was not accustomed to being “told what (he) must do.” I don’t believe that he was used to waiting for much, as well. Yet, just after this life-changing occurrence, Saul was told to go into town and wait for what he was to do next. And he did it.
I must admit that I tend toward the “American way” in regard to waiting, as well as handling being told what to do! I struggle with both areas! Even after years of following Jesus, this is a struggle, yet I recognize that it is a healthy one for me to deal with – being patient and being told what to do. It seems that Saul’s attention was captured by Jesus, and he was ready to do whatever he was told.
Questions to consider: How ready are you to wait for God to speak to you? Upon hearing, how willing are you to obey His instructions? Is there anything that God has spoken to you that He is still waiting for you to obey?
Prayer: Father, give me the heart to wait on You, and give me the strength to obey You once I hear from You. Give me the humility to not go charging off on my own, doing my will and purpose. Help me to follow after You. Amen.
Paul, having been confronted by a powerful, bright light who called Himself Jesus, is now told what he must do next. He is to proceed to Damascus, which was to be his intended destination, but instead of rounding up the followers of Jesus to arrest them, he was instructed to wait for what he was to do next.
It seems to me that Saul was a hard-charging individual who was not accustomed to being “told what (he) must do.” I don’t believe that he was used to waiting for much, as well. Yet, just after this life-changing occurrence, Saul was told to go into town and wait for what he was to do next. And he did it.
I must admit that I tend toward the “American way” in regard to waiting, as well as handling being told what to do! I struggle with both areas! Even after years of following Jesus, this is a struggle, yet I recognize that it is a healthy one for me to deal with – being patient and being told what to do. It seems that Saul’s attention was captured by Jesus, and he was ready to do whatever he was told.
Questions to consider: How ready are you to wait for God to speak to you? Upon hearing, how willing are you to obey His instructions? Is there anything that God has spoken to you that He is still waiting for you to obey?
Prayer: Father, give me the heart to wait on You, and give me the strength to obey You once I hear from You. Give me the humility to not go charging off on my own, doing my will and purpose. Help me to follow after You. Amen.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
May 7, 2009 - Acts 9:5
“’Who are you, Lord?’ Saul asked.”
“’I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.’ He replied.” Acts 9:5.
Saul is stopped in his tracks on his journey to Damascus to arrest followers of Jesus and bring them back to Jerusalem. A bright light surrounds him and he falls to the ground, and a voice speaks to him, saying, “Saul, why do you persecute me?” Upon hearing this voice asking him this question, Saul responds with his question, wondering who it is that is speaking to him. The answer is Jesus. It is Jesus, Himself, who is speaking to Saul, and He states Saul is persecuting Jesus directly; not just His followers.
In this pivotal moment in the life of Saul, he is dramatically and directly challenged by this presence of power and light who calls Himself “Jesus.” From Saul’s perspective, this could have been a very confusing moment. The people travelling with him saw the bright light, heard the noise, and saw Saul on the ground, but they did not understand what was going on. Saul could have passed off all of this as another strange occurrence that happens while travelling in arid wildernesses, yet he knew deep within that this was very different. And this caused him to stop and wonder as to its meaning.
Occasionally, important moments occur in my life, and at those moments, I am usually confronted with a choice. It is instructive to me that at this decisive moment in Saul’s life, he saw the Lord in the choice and decided to follow Him. It is my hope that I, too, will look to the Lord for my choice instead of relying on my own thoughts.
Questions to consider: Do you remember any important moments in your life where you were confronted with an important choice? How did it work for you? Do you tend to rely on your own strength or do you look to God? How is your life changed by deciding either way?
Prayer: Father, give me eyes to see Your movements in my life, especially in those particularly important ones, and give me a heart and mind to make the right choice in following after You. Amen.
“’I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.’ He replied.” Acts 9:5.
Saul is stopped in his tracks on his journey to Damascus to arrest followers of Jesus and bring them back to Jerusalem. A bright light surrounds him and he falls to the ground, and a voice speaks to him, saying, “Saul, why do you persecute me?” Upon hearing this voice asking him this question, Saul responds with his question, wondering who it is that is speaking to him. The answer is Jesus. It is Jesus, Himself, who is speaking to Saul, and He states Saul is persecuting Jesus directly; not just His followers.
In this pivotal moment in the life of Saul, he is dramatically and directly challenged by this presence of power and light who calls Himself “Jesus.” From Saul’s perspective, this could have been a very confusing moment. The people travelling with him saw the bright light, heard the noise, and saw Saul on the ground, but they did not understand what was going on. Saul could have passed off all of this as another strange occurrence that happens while travelling in arid wildernesses, yet he knew deep within that this was very different. And this caused him to stop and wonder as to its meaning.
Occasionally, important moments occur in my life, and at those moments, I am usually confronted with a choice. It is instructive to me that at this decisive moment in Saul’s life, he saw the Lord in the choice and decided to follow Him. It is my hope that I, too, will look to the Lord for my choice instead of relying on my own thoughts.
Questions to consider: Do you remember any important moments in your life where you were confronted with an important choice? How did it work for you? Do you tend to rely on your own strength or do you look to God? How is your life changed by deciding either way?
Prayer: Father, give me eyes to see Your movements in my life, especially in those particularly important ones, and give me a heart and mind to make the right choice in following after You. Amen.
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