Focus

Stop and thank God for being present with you today. Ask for God’s guidance as you hear God’s voice through scripture and the writer.

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Read

Acts 9:19b-31 (NRSV)

For several days [Saul] was with the disciples in Damascus, and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” All who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem among those who invoked this name? And has he not come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?” Saul became increasingly more powerful and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Messiah.

After some time had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night so that they might kill him; but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.

When he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples; and they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him, brought him to the apostles, and described for them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus. So he went in and out among them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. He spoke and argued with the Hellenists; but they were attempting to kill him. When the believers learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

Meanwhile the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was built up. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.

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Reflect

God can use anyone to do God’s important tasks. Throughout the Bible, God calls those who seem unworthy or lacking in some way. People were amazed when they heard Paul speaking. They remembered that not long before he had been persecuting Christians. The disciples were wary of him. He spoke out boldly about Christ being the Son of God and the Messiah. What a change! It could only be God working in his life.

We often feel we are not up to the task God is calling us to do. We feel unworthy, thinking that someone else would be better at doing what God has called us to do. If God has called us to a new opportunity in Christ, such as teaching Sunday school, being an elder, or whatever else we are called to do, remember that God will prepare our way and help us to learn what we need to know. We are not called to go into any new calling unprepared. I have found it interesting how my past jobs have helped in my ministry. God did not send me unprepared. God used my past experiences and put on my heart to go to seminary. Trust in God’s calling upon your life.

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Pray

Gracious God, help me to be open to the call you have upon my life. Please give me the faith to step into the unknown when you call. Thank you for the way you provide for me in unexpected ways. Amen.

Go with God.