The Wednesday Word 7.19.23

 

Acts 9:1-12 NLT

Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. 2 He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains. 3 As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”5 “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! 6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one! 8 Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus. 9 He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink. 10 Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord!” he replied. 11 The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now. 12 I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.”

 

What happened to Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus is absolutely stunning. He was riding high on a wave of success, fully convinced he was doing what was right. After all, he was commissioned by the high priests, the most influential men the in Jewish world. He was on his way to carry out his mission on a wider scale. It was a mission he was certain was what he was supposed to be doing. But, no; Jesus stopped him in his tracks. He couldn’t have been more wrong.

 

I don’t know how to soften this concept, so here goes. You may be on the road to your own Damascus. You may not be guilty of persecution, but you may definitely be headed down the wrong road. That is not for me to say. That is between you and God. Nevertheless, I urge you to check yourself. Take some time to reflect on the course you have set for yourself. Check it against what the teachings of Jesus have to say. That is the surest way to figure out if you are on the right path. You don’t want to find yourself lost in the dark…something to pray about.

 

Don’t forget to look for the Lord today. Vicki H.




photo by Luke Stackpoole on Unsplash



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