Thursday, June 13

THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2019

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples....

"Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name."

But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."

(Acts 9:1,13-16)

In Acts 9, we read about a crucial turn of events:  the conversion of the chief persecutor, Saul, to become a follower of Jesus.  For Saul, the circumstances of Jesus's appearance—and his subsequent blindness—were unmistakable.  The change in his life proved to be thorough and immediate, and, after fellowshipping with other believers and growing in faith, he would indeed become the "chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentile and their kings and to the people of Israel."  Saul, later Paul, would undertake a global mission and, by the Spirit's power, would spread the Gospel message throughout the known Mediterranean world, across multiple cultures and people-groups.

Putting ourselves in Ananias's sandals, we realize that God's transformative power often goes beyond our human understanding or trust.  We struggle to grasp how "that guy" or "those people" could become renewed after coming to life in Christ.  Yet, it happens with great frequency.

As followers of Christ, we may sometimes become complacent and forget the great depths from which God saved us through the grace and mercy through Jesus Christ.  We may even come to view our changed lives as some kind of testimony to our own goodness.  When we slip into this mode of thinking, we miss the richness of grace and may even become judgmental and short-sighted.

God's ways often seem inverted to our own plans and thoughts, but we can and should trust Him.  His plans may involve twists and turns, but they are His purposes and for His glory and the good of His people.  With Job, we may declare:  "I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth." (Job 19:25)

May we embrace God's ways and trust Him for great change, even today and even in what seem to be hopeless situations.  May He raise up new Pauls in our day to spread the Gospel and to bring light out of darkness!

Lord God, thank You for rescuing us from our sin.  Thank You for bringing us into relationship with Your Son, Jesus Christ, according to Your grace and mercy.  Give us opportunities to share the Gospel message with the hurting and broken.  Give us greater confidence in Your plans and purposes.  Help us to trust You to do what seems impossible, to Your glory and for the good of Your people.  In Jesus's mighty Name, amen.

"I Know My Redeemer Lives" (https://youtu.be/qonfozR3BLo)