WEDNESDAY March 22, 2023

Getting Worse

Before Getting Better As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.
Acts 8:3

Saul made havoc of the Church by zealously, persecuting Christians. Things were getting worse by the minute! Before life could get better, Saul needed to be broken. He needed to come to know Christ.

Despite Saul’s railing actions, I believe as Stephen was stoned to death, hearing him say that he saw the heavens open and Jesus standing at the right-hand of the father, made an incredible impression on Saul’s life. I do not think he was ever the same––so much so that Stephen’s death stayed in his mind. Saul must have begun to feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit. God was at work. He had begun to deal with his life.

In reflection, before I came to Christ, the Holy Spirit began to convict me of my sin. Beforehand, I did not feel bad for any of the sinful things I was doing. People were praying for me! God was dealing with my life, and I began to feel guilt. When I accepted Christ, I forsook my sinful ways. I stayed away from worldly friends. I prayed for them, until God saved them.

God deals with so many people’s lives. In His love, grace and mercy; He is the One who brings them to a place of conviction and saves them. As Christians, it is our duty to continue to pray for those who are spiritually lost. We can help them by being a true witness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Non-believers should see Christ in our lives. They see something different––hope, joy, peace and love. I have never tried to force people to accept Christ. Salvation is the direct work of the Holy Spirit. I find, when I live my Christian life through the power of the Holy Spirit, and, as I demonstrate the message of the Cross through my actions, my Christian witness impacts them. My life is a living testimony for them to see.

It is important to know that we cannot convict or bring anyone to Christ. It is the Holy Spirit––it is not us.

To expose our hearts to truth and consistently refuse or neglect to obey the impulses it arouses is to stymie the motions of life within us. And if persisted in to grieve the Holy Spirit into silence.
~A.W. Tozer~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!