Focus
As you quiet yourself for this brief time, be willing to be open to God in whatever way that may take place.
Read
Acts 9:19-31 (ESV)
19 For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.
23 When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, 25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.
26 And 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. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. 30 And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.
Reflect
Wait, what just happened?
Acts 9 begins with the words, “Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord…” and ends with the words, “So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.” Talk about something major happening over the course of this short narrative. If this was a movie, and you had went to go get a refill on popcorn, you would be livid at yourself that you missed a VERY important sequence of events. This guy Saul hated the church and was seeking its demise, I go and get popcorn, and when I come back, Saul is now working with the church and there is peace and it is multiplying?!?
I am always mentioning the profound quote by 20th century philosopher Ferris Bueller, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” The testimony of Saul/Paul is one of those moments where we must stop and look around and see what is going on. What began as an attempted violent arrival of Saul/Paul against the church became a story of redemption, reconciliation, and renewal. Saul/Paul viewed the Christians as enemies, but that wasn’t the last word for him with the church. The church viewed Saul/Paul as an enemy and persecutor, but that wasn’t the final word for them and their relationship with him. As always, God is at work. Even in the most frightening and frustrating of events. Yes, even in the most tragic of events, God remains at work. Now, I don’t believe God is pulling the strings creating tragedy or fear or frustration, because those things are not of his goodness or his will. They are results of a fallen creation that is in need of hope. No, God is present and active working to bring life to death and clarity to frustration and healing to brokenness. God even made friends and coworkers out of enemies. This actually becomes an integral piece of Saul/Paul’s theology when he proclaims, “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8). Saul/Paul had experienced this great salvation and transformation in Acts 9. Romans 5 is a direct result of what God had worked in his life with Ananias and the believers in Damascus.
What things do you need to take a moment to stop and look around at? What things have you deemed to be final and beyond any change? What people have you written off as long gone or without hope? Let today be a day where you go back and reconsider and search for what God is up to. Just as Acts 9 radically changes directions and trajectories, in Christ, our lives can change just as quickly. Who we once looked at as enemies, God can mold and shape them into allies and friends. The situations we think could never produce good, can become fertile ground for good growth and gospel opportunities.
Stop and look around. Don’t miss what God is doing.
Pray
God open our eyes to Your glory all around us! Amen
Go with God!
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