Desiring more of God and less of me this year, growing and focusing on Jesus is my wish for 2016. This week reading Acts 9:
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
Saul says, “Who are you, Lord?” Beloved, it was Jesus. Saul’s life changed forever this day. The men that were with him led him to Damascus, blinded from the light and did not eat or drink for three days. The Lord sends help to Saul.
In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem.And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
The first whisper from the Lord is that God will forgive us and use us despite our past. The second whisper from God is he uses people just as he did Ananias and he helps Ananias’ face fears to go and help Saul.
In a study called Experiencing God, God is at work around us and he invites us to join him. When Ananias went to get Saul, the scales fell from his eyes, he joined the disciples, and he starts preaching the good news. Yes, the good news of Jesus Christ.
Beloved, what is God asking of you? Are you in his word daily? What is God whispering to you? I know he is saying I Love You.
Father God, I come to you and I thank you that you are a God that whispers our name and knows our name. Thank you that you invite us to join you in the work that you are already doing. Thank you that you love us and forgive us. Thank you that you give us a purpose in life and you fulfill us. Thank you that you help us with our fears. You did not give us a spirit of fear but of power love and sound mind. In Jesus name. Amen.
