Then Jesus Intervened

                                                     When The Door Slams

Trusting the LORD with all your heart, and do lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.     Proverbs 3:5-6

       Listen to this: After observing and approving of the stoning of Stephen, Saul of Tarsus decided to rid the world of as many followers of Jesus as he could. The high priest gave him the authority to go to Damascus, root out those who belonged to "the Way" (Acts 9:2), arrest them, and bring them back to Jerusalem for trial and execution.

        Then Jesus intervened. As Saul and his band approached Damascus, Jesus blinded Saul and told him that he was persecuting followers of the Messiah. By the time Saul got to Damascus, he was convert to Christianity. The problem was that no one on earth knew that except Saul. To Christians everywhere, Saul still was Enemy #1. 

        Imagine the surprise of Ananias, a disciple of Jesus in Damascus, when God told him in a vison to go to Saul of Tarsus in Damascus and lay his hands on Saul so that Saul could regain his sight. What sense did it make for Ananias to help the world's greatest persecutor of Christians? God told Ananias that he had made Saul "a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel" (Acts 9:15). 

        Ananias didn't understand completely, but he trusted in God and was obedient. He went to Saul, laid his hands on Saul, and told Saul that Jesus wanted Saul to regain his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. And all of this happened. Because Ananias trusted God, other disciples in Damascus trusted Saul and helped him. Saul became the apostle Paul, spreading Christianity in Damascus and throughout Roman Empire.  

Think about this: Trusting God can be difficult, especially when God asks you to do something that doesn't make sense to you. But when you trust in God with all your heart and lean on God instead of your own understanding, God makes great things happen. 

Intercession: All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous act are like filthy rages; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. No one calls on your name or strives to lay hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us and made us waste away because of our sins. Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand (Isaiah 64:6-8 NIV).

Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness.

                                                            Never Rest Ministries