Acts 9: Saul's Turn of Faith

Saul's Turn of Faith

Saul is the same man who was imprisoning Christians and he is the same man who had an apostle stoned to death. You would not say that Saul was a man after God's heart. You would not say that Saul was a "good person." But, you also can't say Saul's story is over and he has no chance for redemption.

While he was still searching for more Christians to imprison, a light from Heaven shone down on him. A voice started speaking and asked why Saul was persecuting him. Saul did not know who it was and the voice revealed itself to be that of Jesus. The men Saul was with heard the voice too but did not see anyone just as Saul did not. Saul was blinded and could not eat or drink for three days (Acts 9:1-9).

A man named Ananias was told by God to go to Damascus (where Jesus sent Saul). Ananias was told to go there because Saul (whom Ananias knew of) was there praying and had a vision of a man named Ananias who was to lay hands on him and heal his sight. God said in verse 15, "he is a chosen instrument of mine." God also said that Saul would have to suffer in God's name. Ananias did as he was told and Saul's sight was restored, he was baptized and finally was able to eat and drink.

Saul began proclaiming Jesus as the Son of God to people in Damascus and the people plotted to kill him. He escaped out of Damascus and tried to join the disciple who of course did not believe him. Barnabas spoke up for Saul and told of the light being shone on him and of Saul spreading the word of Christ in Damascus (Acts 9:19-31). When God wants to use someone, he will not pick someone who is perfect, but He will choose those whom He sees as able, even one who had persecuted and murdered Christ followers.


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Friday Focus #1

Pray for Who?

On Wednesday, we dove into understanding we need to have capital F type of faith in our capital G God in regards to our prayer life. We can pray for nice clothes and a bigger house and better job, which all are focused on us. But what about the prayers for others? Not just our friends and our family members and loved ones. Anyone can pray for that. I'm pretty sure everyone who prays for people includes praying for people that they car for. Now, let's take it a step further. Loving our enemies and praying for those who persecute us. What would would we do that? Because Jesus said so.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus covered a lot of topics from the Beatitudes, being salt and light of the earth, Christ fulfilling the law, anger, lust, divorce, oaths, retaliation....and loving our enemies.

I don't know with whom you have anger towards. Is it an ex-girlfriend/boyfriend. What about a parent? Maybe it is a sibling?? Are there any co-workers or employers or supervisor that you are mad at and get angry with every time you think about them or see them? It doesn't matter who it is, you can pray for them. No one says you have to be best friend with everyone, but we can pray for those that we have problems with. Pray for them to be healed from whatever the issue is. Pray for yourself to be healed from the relational strain. A lot of times we don't want to admit that we ever did anything wrong.

We can also pray for those who persecute us. They attack us because of our race, religion or political beliefs. Pray for them to see you for who you are and not just under an affiliation. One of the most loving things you can do is get to know someone for who they are see past any prejudicial barriers.

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Matthew 5:13-14

Matthew 5:13 & 14 "You are the salt of the earth...You  are the light of the world..."  commentary- Verses 2-11 are the beatitudes, but 13-16 is important too. Being the salt of the earth for a Christ follower means to be valued greatly. Salt in Jesus's day was a  commodity. People were even paid in salt. The  light of the earth means we give & receive light. We receive light from God & give light to those  that need it. So, with what God has given  you, to whom will you share it?