Friday, March 19, 2021
Luke records God’s plan and calling for the apostle Paul.
Acts 9:15-16 But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is My chosen instrument to take My message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. And I will show him how much he must suffer for My Name’s sake.” (NLT)
Saul sought to coerce Christ-followers to blaspheme so they could be put to death! “Vicious” and “brutal” are words that well described Saul. But God . . . As relentlessly as Saul had pursued Christians – God pursued Saul! This culminated on the road to Damascus when God stopped Saul in his tracks and face to face asked, “Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
Saul was to be a chosen instrument in the hands of Almighty God. Saul, the persecutor, was given the privilege of seeing the risen Lord! Perhaps, this was to comfort him in the days of beatings and imprisonments that lay ahead? Saul would eventually become Paul, one of the greatest missionaries who ever lived, and wrote most of the books of the New Testament! Once again, you are not defined by your past – God can use anyone who is willing to surrender themselves, wholly, to His control.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.