Daily Reading Notes 4/4/2016

Acts 26:16-18

 

16 “But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, 17 delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you 18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

 

Above is Paul’s description of what the Lord Jesus said to him upon his conversion. Paul had a mission given to him from the moment of his salvation, one clearly prepared for him from long beforehand. Though Paul had been an active persecutor of the church, God was going to use Paul in ministry.

 

Paul’s job would be to be “”a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you.” Jesus has revealed himself to Paul. Later, Jesus would teach Paul the truth of God. And Paul’s job would be to serve God in that truth and to tell others the truth that God had shown him.

 

Jesus would send Paul to the gentiles. Paul’s sharing of the gospel would have an amazing result in their lives, “to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me [Christ].”

 

The reason that this all stood out to me today is that Christians have so much of the same mission. We are to be servants and witnesses to the word of God. We are to obey God’s word. And we are to share God’s word with a world that vehemently opposes it.

 

What will happen when we share the truth of God with the world? Well, of course we know that not everybody will believe. But, some will. Some will turn from darkness to light. Some will turn from the rule of the devil to the family of God. Some will find salvation through faith in Christ.

 

This all reminds me that my job is to love God, love his word, and tell the truth. That is all of our calling. And I need the help of God to do this well.

 

Lord, I thank you for salvation in Christ. I thank you for your word. I thank you that you have chosen to let me know how it is that I might obey and serve you. I pray, Lord, that you will grant me the courage, wisdom, and opportunity to share your truth with others. Help me to be honest and genuine with others. Help me to see others move from darkness to light. I ask that you would use me to help people to become part of your family and to follow your word faithfully. I cannot do this on my own. I lack the power and the wisdom if you do not give it to me through your Holy Spirit. Let me be a witness to you and a faithful servant of your word.