Daily Reading: Acts 9
Scripture Focus: 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... (Act 9.3-4a)
Devotional Thought: Have you ever tried to busy yourself so that you could put something out of your mind? We do that, don't we? Saul did it. Having witnessed the hateful and unjust execution of Stephen - along with Stephen's forgiving attitude - Saul furiously persecuted the church. Attempting to get Stephen out of his mind, Saul went to a foreign city to arrest Christians, to stomp out the church.
There was one thing, however, that Saul didn't consider. He may have seen the light of Stephen snuffed out, he may have silenced the voices of Christians he had imprisoned, but he could not extinguish the light of the Spirit or muffle the voice of God.
This happened as Saul...
Went on his way. We've tried it. We've attempted to ignore the voice of God and just keep focused on life, on our plans, our agendas, our prejudices. We've seen people who are "too busy" for God or for church. They fill their lives with so many things that they don't have time to think about God.
Approached Damascus. Saul's hatred was about to get exponentially worse. I've seen that happen so many times. People's spirals into sin and away from God come to crisis point.
Suddenly saw a light from heaven... Saul had run as far as he could. He had ignored God as long as possible. Now Christ invaded his consciousness. He spoke. He stopped Saul. He saved him.
Do you know people like Saul, people whose hearts are set against God? Be encouraged and pray for them. Pray that the light of God will shine and the voice of God will speak. May the Spirit bring conviction!
Prayer: Jesus, you said the Holy Spirit would convict the world in regard to sin. I pray for __________, that he/she would see the light of God shining and hear the voice of God speaking. May they fall to their knees in surrender to you. Amen.
Psalm of the Day: 22 Let their own table before them become a snare; and when they are at peace, let it become a trap. 23 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see, and make their loins tremble continually. 24 Pour out your indignation upon them, and let your burning anger overtake them. 25 May their camp be a desolation; let no one dwell in their tents. 26 For they persecute him whom you have struck down, and they recount the pain of those you have wounded. 27 Add to them punishment upon punishment; may they have no acquittal from you. 28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living; let them not be enrolled among the righteous. (Psalms 69:22-28)
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