Paul is a classic example of God being able to use anyone for his purpose and glory. When you think of how Paul (then named Saul) persecuted Christians and also sat back and watched as Stephen was stoned to death, it’s amazing how God is able to touch a heart and transform it. What is even more special about Paul’s conversion was the fact that Jesus spoke to him on the road to Damascus. It wasn’t God speaking and commanding Paul, it was Jesus himself whom Paul was persecuting directly.
“Who are you, Lord? “ Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting, he replied.” (Acts 9:5)
As I sit here and ponder Paul’s conversion, I wonder about how he then felt about his past and all the horrible things that he did. Did he feel guilty? Did he struggle to rid himself of his shame? Or was he transformed instantly, washed clean and thus able to do God’s work unhindered?
I believe it was the latter. I believe that hearing our Saviour’s voice and being blinded cleansed him and gave him the confidence and comfort he needed to just get on with God’s work. We, as humans, can learn a valuable lesson from this. I know that I certainly can.
Paul knew that God had forgiven him of all his sins, so he was able to leave the past behind and move forward. He knew his purpose, which was to serve God and spread the Word. I need to take this knowledge and apply it to myself. I need to really feel it; to care enough about myself, as God does, to realise that I have been forgiven and can move forward.
God is amazing. His grace is awe-inspiring; how He can love us for who we are with our faults and all. It’s incredible that He touches hearts like He does. Every Sunday in church as the pastor prays for those who have heard God’s voice during the meeting to raise their hand, I pray for them too. I pray that their hearts will be opened and they will give themselves over to our wonderful God who loves and cherishes and cares for them. And who will transform their lives so that they will not feel needful, wanting, lacking, insecure, or insignificant ever again because they will have God, who is all they need.
God has a purpose for all His children, thus why He can use anyone for His glory. I am grateful that I have made it through the hard yards of life; the years of walking on the wrong path and making the wrong choices. I am thankful that even during these times I knew God was with me, even though I was acting like an ungrateful child and not wanting to take on board His guidance. I now know my purpose, and it’s to share His love for me, His grace, His favour, His mercy, His kindness, and so much more, with all those around me.
"...Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and...the Lord had spoken to him, and…he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus…speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.” (Acts 9:27, 28).
God saved Paul and God saved me, and God used Paul for His glory and will use me for His glory. God has proven on many occasions that He can save and use anyone.
(See Acts 9:1-31 for Saul’s Conversion and Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem.)
I’m reading the book of Acts at present, as well as studying it through my daily devotional, and the word “bold” keeps standing out. The Macquarie Dictionary defines bold as “not hesitating in the face of actual or possible danger or rebuff” and also “not hesitating to breach the rules of propriety.” The Apostles certainly were bold considering these definitions! They did not hesitate in the face of danger when you consider they experienced the rebuke of the Pharisees and endured time in jail. And as far as actual physical danger goes, many lost their lives, like Stephen, who became the first Christian martyr. What strength and what courage!
After pondering this, I gleaned that the lesson here is that we all must be “speaking freely and fearlessly and boldly in the Lord…” – Acts 14:3 (AMP). We must be bold even with the threat of danger or rebuff. So how does one do this? How does one become bold in the Lord?
Let’s look at Stephen; he was bold. He was “a man of faith and of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 6:5), and “a man full of God’s grace and power” (Acts 6:8). He was also full of wisdom (Acts 6:10); so much so that the members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen could not stand up against him because he was so bold. They concocted untruths about him, which resulted in Stephen being brought before the Sanhedrin and put to death by stoning after infuriating them greatly while giving his speech recounting events from the Old Testament that glorified God and our Lord Jesus Christ.You could say that Stephen’s speech was his one last hoorah (defined as “final moment or occasion of glory or achievement” from Dictionary.com) for God, but what an amazingly powerful hoorah that was! Standing there boldly speaking God’s word to the very men who demanded the crucifixion of Jesus. It’s no wonder that Stephen’s face shone like an angel (Acts 6:15); he was filled with the power of the Holy Spirit! He was free, fearless and bold!
The key here - the Almighty Enabler, you could say - is the Holy Spirit. As I go about my daily life, and deal with the struggles and temptations of the world, I must call on the Holy Spirit so I can be bold!
I am a woman of faith and have been baptised and filled with the Holy Spirit who enables me to be full of grace, power and wisdom. This means that I am to speak freely, fearlessly and boldly in the Lord! I must share my faith, share God’s love, and most importantly share why I am a Christian; telling of what Jesus did for me and His love for me. I am also to share that this is obtained by having a close relationship with Him that is deepened by prayer and meditation on His word that then enables me to live a joyful and rich life, and a life lived boldly!
