Acts 9
April Memory Verse: But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8 NIV
Read: Acts 9
The conversion of Saul of Tarsus is arguably the second most important event in human history (second to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ). Paul was a leader of the faith, a “chosen instrument” of the Lord to reach the Gentiles, and the one God used to write 2/3 of the New Testament.
Paul’s conversion story is miraculous, but it also demonstrates the same miraculous process by which each of us comes into a relationship with God through Jesus: coming into contact with the resurrected Christ (v.3-6), a decision of repentance, faith, and surrendering of life (during Paul’s three days of blindness and fasting), the filling of the Holy Spirit (v.17), and the clear evidence of a changed life (basically the rest of Acts and the letters written by Paul).
A part of this passage that stood out to me was the involvement of Ananias. Why heal Saul through Ananias? Why didn’t God just heal Saul directly? He wanted Ananias to be a part of the process. God doesn’t HAVE to use us, but He wants to because it grows us. We get the joy of being a part of His plan of redemption.
Friend, the Lord desires to use you in the lives of those around you. Even the ones you have categorized as “un-savable” in your mind. Just like Ananias, you may have doubts and questions. But if Saul of Tarsus, who was “uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers” can be saved and used in a big way by God, then anyone can.
Who is the Lord telling you to share the Gospel with? Who have you categorized as “un-savable” that is asking in their own way for you to share the love of Jesus with them? Take some time to pray for them and look for opportunities to share!
By: Kaitlin White
Read: Acts 9
The conversion of Saul of Tarsus is arguably the second most important event in human history (second to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ). Paul was a leader of the faith, a “chosen instrument” of the Lord to reach the Gentiles, and the one God used to write 2/3 of the New Testament.
Paul’s conversion story is miraculous, but it also demonstrates the same miraculous process by which each of us comes into a relationship with God through Jesus: coming into contact with the resurrected Christ (v.3-6), a decision of repentance, faith, and surrendering of life (during Paul’s three days of blindness and fasting), the filling of the Holy Spirit (v.17), and the clear evidence of a changed life (basically the rest of Acts and the letters written by Paul).
A part of this passage that stood out to me was the involvement of Ananias. Why heal Saul through Ananias? Why didn’t God just heal Saul directly? He wanted Ananias to be a part of the process. God doesn’t HAVE to use us, but He wants to because it grows us. We get the joy of being a part of His plan of redemption.
Friend, the Lord desires to use you in the lives of those around you. Even the ones you have categorized as “un-savable” in your mind. Just like Ananias, you may have doubts and questions. But if Saul of Tarsus, who was “uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers” can be saved and used in a big way by God, then anyone can.
Who is the Lord telling you to share the Gospel with? Who have you categorized as “un-savable” that is asking in their own way for you to share the love of Jesus with them? Take some time to pray for them and look for opportunities to share!
By: Kaitlin White
11 Comments
Thank you Kaitlin! Taking the time to be prepared and ready to be used is an act of love. When I let other things get in the way of sharing Christ with another (pride as I don’t want to be rejected; focus on my own life...) it’s selfish of me!
The first paragraph of chapter 9 says that Saul was getting what he needed and was prepared and ready just in case he had an opportunity to arrest a Christ-follower. Wow, what a turn-around!
I admit, I sometimes am afraid to pray asking God to use me for fear of what He will ask me to do, what sacrifice will I have to make? Please pray I will have courage.
I have that same first response, Christy, when I am moved to asked God to use me. But then I remember, just like with Paul and the other disciples, He never calls us to something He doesn't equip to us do. I pray that God will help all believers to remember that, including you and me.
Oh to have the encrusted scales fall from my eyes, to be filled with the Holy Spirit and to see Jesus, my Lord who saved me!
I was told yesterday that most of our lack of evangelism comes from unbelief. Unbelief that Jesus is able or willing to save that person in your life. Unbelief that person is truly going to hell. Unbelief of the love and grace of God for us and others. That's my prayer. That all of these things would become greater realities in our life. If we understood just these things, we would be a people that started a great movement of God by the power of the Holy Spirit
Kaitlin, I noticed the same thing when reading this. I’m spending some time today thanking God for Ananias and his OBEDIENCE! Sure he wasn’t quite sure about God’s plan, but He did it! And looks how that has changed history and MY LIFE!
This is so convicting! If anyone ever seemed unsavable, it was surely Saul - and yet God saved him and used him GREATLY! I pray I can be more faithful in trying to reach my friends & family regardless of any seeming hardness. Since our God breaks through prison walls. 😉
I have come to the conclusion that the most important thing to do is walk the talk consistently before others and in your alone time (in other words, always), while staying in prayer and the Word regularly. In this way I am ready when the Holy Spirit prompts me to share the Gospel. It is a constant battle to keep focused on this mission and not get distracted by my daily responsibilities and physical wants and needs. Lord, please help us believers to keep our hearts and minds fixed on You.
Thank you Kaitlin, this was quite convicting to have the lack of faith exposed in my life. For me I am convicted to share the Gospel with my roommate. Often times I categorize him as "unsavable", but it is my fear of rejection and lack of faith showing up. I pray for me to desire his salvation over my comfort.
Thank you for this word Kaitlin! In going through jumpstart, Paul has definitely become my favorite character of the New Testament. His conversion story is SO powerful! God said that Paul was His “chosen instrument” to share the gospel and save others through Christ, even though he murdered Christians! God called him anyway, and he was chosen despite his sin. This is such an encouragement to me because God chose ME despite my sin, and He does the same for all of us. So encouraged today!
Thanks Kaitlin today’s Word got me to thinking if I am doing all I should to share the Lord with my two servers that call me Dad. They both think they are saved, but their everyday lives don’t show it .But I need to encourage them more for these are the hardest people to get to because haven’t truly given their heart to the Lord and have a true relationship with Him. This passage today and your words have convicted my heart that I need to do more to reach them . Pray for me as I pray for you .
"God doesn’t HAVE to use us, but He wants to because it grows us."
That is such a humbling statement. We get to be a part of the plan that the Creator of the universe has laid out. To me, that is something that is a confidence boost. God chooses to use us even though he could do it all Himself. So, if God chooses to use us, why should we believe that he wouldn't save the person we are sharing with? Our unbelief stops us from sharing with people so many times, but if the God over everything is choosing to use me, who am I to think that he won't work miracles in their life? Great insight and great encouragement, Kaitlin!