DAY #194: Acts 9:10-31

As Saul waited for further directions, the Lord began speaking to Ananias, a Jew who had become a believer in Christ. Ananias responded to the call of God. The meeting between Saul and Ananias was divinely arranged.

Ananias was understandably shaken by the Lord’s command to go and find Saul of Tarsus. Christians wanted to stay far away from Saul. His reputation as an enemy of the church was well documented, and the intent of this particular mission to Damascus was widely known. Ananias knew that Saul had been authorized by the leading priests to arrest every believer in Damascus. Fearful of what might happen, Ananias began to protest. Despite his protests, however, Ananias was up to the task.

What irony that the most zealous Jew and most anti-Gentile would be the chosen witness to take God’s message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. For the rest of his life, Saul marveled that he would be the recipient of such mercy and grace, as well as be the appointee for such a noble task.

Saul, who had caused horrible suffering for so many Christians, would find that he, too, must suffer. The remainder of the book of Acts, as well as the many letters that Saul wrote, chronicle the words of this verse: Saul would find himself witnessing for Christ in front of Gentile audiences, Jewish audiences, and even kings. He also would suffer severely for his faith.

The change in Saul was instantaneous. In less than one week, he went from being eager to destroy the Lord’s followers to preaching about Jesus in the synagogues. The believers were understandably suspicious, but Saul’s powerful and persistent preaching, coupled with efforts by the Jewish leaders to kill him, finally convinced the apostles that his conversion was genuine. According to Galatians 1:17-18, Saul spent three years in Arabia between the time of his conversion and his journey to Jerusalem.

Saul obeyed his new calling immediately, for immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues. Saul could do this so soon after his conversion because his experience on the road to Damascus had been unmistakable. Saul knew that Jesus was alive, Jesus was the Son of God, and Jesus was the Messiah. The change in Saul caused his hearers to be amazed. They had expected Saul to show up and begin arresting followers of Jesus for they knew that was why he had come to Damascus in the first place. Yet here was this enemy of Christianity preaching the Christian message!

After describing Saul’s astounding conversion, Luke focused again on the ministry of Peter, specifically on the miraculous signs that accompanied his preaching. Capitalizing on the newfound climate of religious tolerance (the result of Saul’s conversion and departure to Tarsus), Peter began an itinerant ministry intended to strengthen and encourage believers scattered throughout Israel.


SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

LIFECHANGE! I can't speak for any other pastor, but for me, the thing that gets my juices flowing and my blood pumping is LIFECHANGE. To read about the conversion of Saul and the immediate change that God brought about in his life is simply awesome.

Lord, as I have prayed so often, I pray again this morning - make COV into a place where people are getting saved weekly. Make COV a place where they start to get serious about you, like never before. Make COV a place where Your Holy Spirit flows freely and where people are drawn into a right relationship with you. All of this for Your glory and honor.

"However, as it is written: 'No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him'"-- 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV)

Lord, break our hearts with he lostness of people. Give the the people of COV a heart to share their faith and be bold and courageous for You.