Yesterday, we considered how seriously terrible life had gotten for the early believers. It may have been their limit. But God’s plan was about to be revealed. Who better to experience it than Saul himself!!!! Siblings, whatever seems impossible … hold strain. God’s still on the case. Learn from Todays Holy Nougat.
“As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”” Acts of the Apostles 9:3-4 NLT
Arrested by God’s Light
Can you picture it? Saul and His team are travelling and discussing plans for Damascus. They probably were assigning the routes each would take responsibility for or celebrating the ease of attaining the persecution permits. We don’t know whether it was day or night, but suddenly! The Light of God’s glory appeared and outshone everything … just like it did when the shepherds received the Good News of Y’shua Jesus’ birth. This was no spacecraft, no one asking to be beamed up, although God’s glory was manifested as a single beam – on Saul! Talk about arresting! There was no doubt about WHO was being addressed. Saul was in big trouble – really Big!
Self-Check
Would God need such elaborate plans to get our attention?
Application
That Light caught Saul by surprise. He immediately fell to the ground. We do not know for certain that Saul fell voluntarily, but we know that in God’s presence, all must bow. I think there’s a theory in physics that says that sound follows light, and follow it did! But that sound defied the laws of physics – it was the voice of God Almighty, arresting Saul.
What might have been my response in such a situation? I’m not sure. But then, YHWH also personalises divine appointments. That may stem from the fact that, though humans, we react differently to stimuli. God does not use a one size fits all approach with us. Each Damascus Road experience is different. God seeking each of us out, however. That’s constant.
I maintain that though God had plans for Saul from the onset, Stephen’s prayer also carried clout with YHWH. With that, I urge us to be steadfast in prayer for those who seem to be hell-bent on persecuting God’s elect. We do not pray as those who have no hope, nor do we pray for others’ eternal damnation. Rather, we pray God’s grace and transformation over their lives. (You’re not alone in trying to get that one right – I’m still on that learning curve). For, if God could arrest Saul en route to Damascus, there’s hope for others as well.
Point to Ponder
Is there a situation that requires the light of God to arrest it, or someone needing a Damascus moment? How might we pray?
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May all we seek be found in Christ
