Welcome to Real-ity Based Blogging

Go ahead and look first at Acts 9 . See how God speaks to you individually. Then come back, if you wish, and see what God has put in my mind/heart.

Key Verse(s): Acts 9:13-15

"Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name."

Title: We Don’t Get To Decide

Observation: Paul hurt people. Paul persecuted, encouraged the killing of Stephen. Paul had gone out to attack the followers of Jesus. Paul was an enemy of the fledgling church.

But God decided to call Paul into His service. God in his sovereign wisdom decided that this would be the man he would use to take the gospel in to Greece and beyond. God decided that this man, who had been a violent man (1 Tim 1) should be his instrument of bringing peace with God to others.

We don’t get to choose who God uses and calls into his service. Some of the people who find Jesus have been bad. Some may have hurt us. Some we might be very skeptical of their motivation or commitment. But we don’t get to chose. We are to be like Ananias and go and bless and equip those who have hated us for service of Jesus, regardless of our feelings. It is God who calls his servants.

Application: I need to have my eyes opened to the people that God wants to call into His family and into His service. I must not judge the exterior, but trust God to see the interior of the heart. I need to use the power I have in the body to bring the broken to restoration and service to Jesus. I need to allow those who have hurt others, those who make me furious by their past behavior, to be co-laborer with me for the sake of Christ. Because he is the Master, not me.

Prayer: Lord God, help me see people the way you do. Give me more grace with which to view others. Teach me how to be wise in leadership without limiting the ministry of those you have called to serve. Allow to me supernatural wisdom so that I might give a second chance to someone who doesn’t deserve it, but to whom you have extended grace and calling (a lot like me if I’m honest.)

In Jesus Name,
Amen.