THE HIT LIST

Image result for CLIP ART OF A LISTWe read in Acts 9 of Saul of Tarsus "breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples" and find him moving into Damascus where there were many who belonged to "The Way". They were to be taken captive and travel back to Jerusalem. Miraculously, Saul is saved on this journey when he is confronted with the Lord Jesus.  Saul is blinded by the PRESENCE of Jesus and his entourage takes him to the home of Judas.   See him groping and trying to make his way in the home of Judas, feeling and stumbling.  Can you imagine the cacophony of emotions that are bombarding Saul? 

The Lord God has a plan....always and a purpose.  He touches the heart of Ananias and instructs him to go to Saul.  Ananias gives his logical disclaimer to God, as if HE, the Divine Knower may not have the info that Saul is in Damascus to arrest and take captive the saints and return them to Jerusalem, more than likely for a "religious trial".  Hear God's reply to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.  I will show him how much he much suffer for My name."   Ananias is obedient, maybe in fear and wonder, and finds Saul.  He ministers to Saul and Saul's eyes are opened, he is filled with the Spirit of God and is baptized.  Saul receives refreshment from Ananias and restoration and reconciliation to God.  
 
Saul immediately spends days with the disciples in Damascus and begins to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.  He is the talk of Damascus...why, isn't he the one who "raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name?"  His preaching and testimony baffles the Jews.  Some of the response of the religious Jews:  SAUL MAKES THE HIT LIST TO BE MURDERED BY THE RELIGIOUS JEWS.   Like Jesus, he will remain on the hit list for the rest of his ministry, yet he will be an instrument of God that we Gentiles might hear the gospel and be saved. Thank You Lord God for the obedience and courage of Ananias who has not been applauded in Scripture  and who was willing to risk his life to minister to Saul.  Thank You for Saul, who is a model of the relationship with YOU and becomes a new creature in Christ Jesus beholding all things being made new.  I wonder....it is not who we were, but WHO are we becoming in Christ? Obedience is costly!  It was for Jesus and it will be for you and me! Forever learning.  In process.  #IHAVETHREESONS.


 
 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THOSE SEEING CAN BECOME BLIND

Image
John 9 is the story of the healing of the blind beggar.  Not only is it a marvelous story of the miraculous healing of the man as he is given his sight, but a sad story of the religious of whom Jesus said, "For judgment, I have come into this world, so that the blind will see, and those who see will become blind ." The religious have seen the miracle, even though it has taken place on a Sabbath, and they interview the man and his parents for their stories and understanding. I find it so thrilling that the healed man speaks so articulately and logically with the religious in their "interview" with him.  His statement, " Now that is remarkable!  You don't know where HE comes from, yet HE opened my eyes.  We know that God does not listen to sinners.  He listens to the godly man who does His will.  Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do nothing." What truth he has spoken to the religious wh
Read more

REHEARSALS

Image
  I wonder how much time do I give to rehearsing God's goodness and how He has intervened in my life to "save" me from myself?  How alike the Israelites I can be, complaining about what goes wrong, how it affects me, and what I lack.  As a Christ follower, I have the Indwelling Holy Spirit to give me remembrance NOT of my complaining and grumbling, but of a recall of God's faithfulness to me.  It is recorded in Psalms 78 and 106 that " They forgot what He had done, the wonder He had shown them", "They did not remember His power--the day He redeemed them from the oppressor...", "They did not remember Your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea.", "But they soon forgot what He had done and did not wait for His counsel.", and "They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt...". Contrast with me, God's remembrance: Ps. 106:44-46, "But He took note of their distress
Read more

ORDER AND DESIGN

Image
    I do not have OCD, but I do confess that I like order in my home.  Now that I am retired, I am not so much into spotless, but "picked up" and "kinda" clean. (Do not open drawers and closets!) I might go to more trouble when I know I am having company, but otherwise, I remove the clutter that seems to reproduce on its own.   When I began the reading in Genesis in January, I was again taken with the with the orderliness and design of God in creation, and have seen Him use Moses and Aaron to ORDERLY marshal the Israelites to move out of Egypt. How do you move some 600+ males and that is not even wives and children? Animals also?  They have been one year+ out of Egypt, and have been camped at Mt. Sinai where God has given them laws for their spiritual and physical welfare.  God gives Moses the design of the Tabernacle and Moses is able to bring together the workers to complete the Tabernacle.   The clip art at the top is the positioning of the 12 Tribes and the
Read more