I want to thank the Almighty God on high for His every gift and condescension toward me, a sinner and person of no great merit within the higher strata of the learned society on earth. Yet I read in His Holy Word, that I and every soul are worth everything to God. I have the verification of this fact, because God, the Father allowed Jesus, His Son, to come to earth in human form, and face without sinning, the temptations and assaults of Satan: ending in the death of Jesus. This was offered and allowed, so that Jesus became our permanent, acceptable sin sacrifice; thus reconciling everyone who ‘believes on Him’ to His Father. To me today, this knowledge is wonderful, and almost incomprehensible!
I have been reading a story in the Bible that reveals that no sinner or action can permanently bar such a one from God and salvation, until they are irrevocably decided and set upon a course of rebellion and opposition to God and His way. The following story in Acts 9 reveals that Jesus will call even a notorious murderous person to Himself. Saul a scholarly Jewish Pharisee, of great piety and dedication, gave much of his energy to rooting out those who followed the teachings of Jesus, and not the now useless temple traditions. He had caused many new Christians after the resurrection of Christ, to be persecuted and put to death. Jesus in a blaze of light appeared to Saul, on a lonely road between Jerusalem and Damascus and asked V 4, 5 “………..Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? And He said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ Then the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” Here we have a man who had set out on his trip, with self-righteousness, and as he thought godly zeal in his heart. V 1, 2 “Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest. And asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.” However when Jesus reveals Himself, the amazing thing is, Saul did not resist or debate with the voice of Jesus, V 6 “So he, trembling and astonished, said, ‘Lord, what do You want me to do?’ Then the Lord said to him, ‘Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.’” There was no debating with Jesus or prevarication, Saul who had been temporarily blinded, obediently got up and was led by the hand to Damascus, and he remained blinded and without food or drink for three days. Ananias, a disciple of Jesus who resided in Damascus, was called in a vision and told to go and be used by Jesus to give Saul back his sight. The Lord had also revealed to Saul in vision how it would be and who He would send. Ananias did not jump at the chance, and attempted to educate Jesus about the doings of Saul in Jerusalem and intentions for coming to Damascus. In answer, Jesus showed that He was the Lord, and in full knowledge and mastery of the events occurred and yet to happen. Verse 15, 16 “But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” It was then, that Ananias ceased his protest, and went on his way and did as the Lord had first asked. What a lesion in the results of obedience to God, for both men (and us). God knows all things and His purpose is the salvation of people. Saul, who later was called Paul, truly was converted, and gave his whole heart and service to Jesus and being used to bring salvation, for all who would accept Jesus.
I thank Jesus, not only for salvation through Him, but also for His challenging commission to every Christian, to spread His good news. Mark 16: 15 “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.’” I note that Paul with his now love filled heart for Jesus, diverted his ‘full on’ zealous efforts, to preaching ‘the gospel to every creature’. We cannot all do the work of Paul, or in his style, but Jesus reveals to the willing, many different ways, of representing Himself to others, and then promises the wisdom and power to do so; without which we cannot be effective. I am so thankful He does! Luke 11: 13 “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.” Proverbs 2: 6 “For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
Dear God, I am assured that Your promises can never go unanswered, when claimed by a humble truly seeking person. I crave Your blessing and direction upon my life and the activities I undertake, believing You have asked me to do so. I rest in the assurance of past experience, and surety of Your promises and written word.