Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. Acts 9:3-9
Paul’s Passionate Personality
This week’s witness was, and still is, one of the most influential early Christians! His name in Hebrew was Saul, while the Greek version is pronounced Paul (Both versions are used in the Bible). He was a very passionate person. During the days of the early church after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, Saul was not a disciple of Jesus. In fact, he was the opposite. Saul was ardently persecuting the early church members.
Saul was hunting down Christians and having them killed. The Bible even records in Acts chapter six that the pharisees that stoned Stephen laid their garments at the feet of the young man Saul. His faith was whole-hearted, but misdirected.
God gets Saul’s attention
God interrupts Saul’s life in a dramatic fashion because He has big plans for this passionate man of faith. While Saul is traveling along a road, a bright light and a voice from heaven confront him. He leaves the encounter naturally blind, but beginning to have his spiritual eyes opened.
Ananias, God’s Plan to Help Saul
Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened. 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.” Acts 9:10-20
Saul is still as passionate as ever, but now he is actively spreading the news about Jesus the Messiah. Saul/Paul will go on to pen a large portion of the New Testament, in addition to planting churches all around the known world.
Disclaimer: If you go on to read Saul’s story in the Bible, you will realize that God getting him off the path of persecution and onto apostle avenue did not mean that his life went smoothly ever after. He experienced persecution himself, was in shipwrecks, bitten by snakes, arrested, imprisoned, was sick, and more. Bad circumstances are not an indication that you are doing something wrong. Sometimes you are exactly where God wants you and still bad things happen. Paul’s bad experiences opened doors for sharing the gospel that he never would have had with a comfortable life. God turned the bad for good purposes.
ACTION STEP:
God used Saul’s naturally passionate personality to accomplish His purposes in the early church. Have you submitted your gifts, skills, personality, and talents to God to be used for His glory? We all have unique traits and giftings that God created in us. Our Creator loves to see us using the gifts He has given us. This week, ask Him to reveal how to use your special quirks and qualities to further HIS plans.
Please post your thoughts and pics under Week 3 in the Facebook group @DevoInAction (https://www.facebook.com/devoinaction) or post on Instagram and tag me @devoinaction! #diawitnesses
PRAYER:
Dear God, Show us how to bring glory to you with our personality traits, skills, and talents. If we don’t know what they are, open our eyes to how you have uniquely created us to play a role in Your big plan. Give us the courage to say yes to Your purposes instead of just following what we want. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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