Today’s devotion comes from Acts 9:1-19, you may have heard this before but let me refresh your mind, in this passage Saul starts out “eager to kill the Lord’s follower,” he wants to arrest any followers of Christ and he seems to be hot in pursuit of making any and all of this happen. Suddenly God reveals himself and asks Saul “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” He becomes blind and Jesus then tells him to go into the city and he will be told what to do.
Imagine you are Saul; you are persecuting Christians, you have no faith in God, and all of a sudden you are struck down by him, the almighty father. How would you feel? What would you do? If that were me I’d immediately begin to ask for forgiveness and begin repenting and begging God to forgive me. There are people in our city, state, country, and world that do not know God. They deny his very existence or worse don’t know of his glorious name, Jesus. How heartbreaking is that? We as the body of Christ have to find those people and reveal to them our glorious God. We are God’s spokespeople, we must share our experiences, our trials, and our testimonies. Matthew 28:18-20 states, "And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
We must not let those around us slip through the cracks, it is so important to tell those around us and proclaim his name, we aren’t just trying to teach people about his blessings, and everything he promises, but ensure and reach people so they can maintain an eternity with their creator and father. This story of acts 9 picks back up in verse 10, with the Lord calling Ananias to go and lay his hands on Saul to restore his vision. Ananias is very confused. The thoughts running through his head probably belong to, but why God, he has been persecuting your people and doing terrible things. The Lord answers Ananias with, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings as well as to the people of Israel. And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name's sake.”
Saul was walking in the complete opposite direction than God for what seems like 30 secs ago, but God states he is his chosen instrument. Can I tell you today that God has chosen you, he has designed you, he knows you, and boy, how much he loves you. We are all God’s chosen instruments. So tune in, tune into what God is trying to say to you, and give him control and trust him. He will not fail, Saul’s life is entirely changed by God and your life can be too. To finish off our scripture, picking back up in verse 17 through 18, “So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appears to you on the road, has sent so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized.”
Saul’s life was changed drastically in such a short period of time, God is capable, God loves you, and God will help you. God has a plan and he may do it in what seems like 30 seconds or it may feel like years of gradual change, but God has it under control. Just give it to him and trust in the Lord your father.