THURSDAY April 20, 2023
Called to Do Christ’s Will
Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
Acts 9:4-6
Saul was a persecutor––a destroyer of the Church. Jesus dealt with Saul’s life personally. He convicted him for persecuting Christians. The Lord got right to the heart of the matter. He was very upfront with Saul. It was as if Jesus was saying to him, “Saul, what is the matter with you? Do you not know, in coming against Christians, you are coming against Me? This is My Church!” Then incredibly, an enemy of the Church became converted to Christianity.
On the ground, Saul lay trembling and astonished. He was completely broken by the Lord and responded to Him in humility, asking, “Who are you Lord?” Remember, Saul was a part of the Sanhedrin and had sat at the feet of Gamaliel, a renowned teacher of the Law, but this personal encounter with Christ changed his life completely.
Saul asked the Lord what He wanted him to do. He heard the Lord’s voice commanding him to: “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” Jesus wanted Saul to go to the city of Damascus and wait for further instructions. Saul would obediently do as He asked.
In His love, God deals with your life very personally, as well. He ultimately wants you to come to know Him as Lord and Savior. When you finally surrender your life to Christ, then you should ask Him the same question as Saul, “What must I do?” Seek Him, wait on Him for His direction, and He will tell you what you must do.
True Christianity will cost a man the favor of the world. He must be content to be thought ill of by man if he pleases God. He must count it no stranger thing to be mocked, ridiculed, slandered, persecuted and even hated.
~R.C. Ryle~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
