I forget to clean my glasses all the time. I'll go months before someone in my family decides to take them from me and clean them. When they give them back, I can always see a little bit clearer.
My vision was at its worst though, before I got my glasses. My family tells me that, as a five-year-old, when I first put them on, I said, "Wow, I can actually see."
Since wearing them for almost twenty years, along with my contacts (I love my contacts!!!!), my vision without them has become better. However, if I stopped using these vision enhancers or take bad care of them, my vision would probably get worse again and I would miss seeing so much in the process.
This week we'll be looking at how God transformed Saul into Paul by removing the hatred, legalism, and unbelief that blinded him and replacing it with awareness for who Jesus is.
If you're a Christian, you have experienced a transformation like this too. We need to understand though, that just like my vision needs constant (and clean) assistance, our awareness of God and His movement in our lives can become clouded over if we're not connecting with Him often.
Whether God’s transforming us from blind to seeing, for the first time, or just clearing up our vision for the hundredth time, it’s amazing to get to experience His power and presence.
Saul was a man set on persecuting Christians. He saw belief in Jesus as something that went against the law. Because of this, he started out on a trip to Damascus to find Christians to arrest. On His way though, Jesus’ voice called out to him. Saul was blinded by the light that came with Jesus’ voice. Jesus told Saul who He was and to go wait in Damascus for further instruction. God sent a man named Ananias to restore Saul’s sight through the Holy Spirit’s power. Something like scales came off Saul’s eyes when Ananias touched him. Saul’s experience of God’s calling and power transformed him completely. Saul’s name was changed to Paul, and he went on to be a missionary, church planter, and – through the power of the Holy Spirit – an author of multiple books of the Bible.
Three points to taking on a posture ready for transformation are: One, look to Jesus. He’s constantly trying to call us to Him. We can welcome change just by trading our thoughts for thinking about Jesus. Two, follow God’s guidance. As we follow what God’s calling us toward, He’s already using the process to reshape our thoughts and desires. Three, allow God to remove our scales. Paul could’ve, upon meeting Ananias, changed his mind and decided to live in blindness. We, too, have this choice, we can blindly try to live out our Christian walk or we can let God take away what is blocking us from experiencing His closeness.
Here’s how to not allow change into your life: Stay angry at God – There may be times where you need to be honest with God and tell Him that you’re angry at Him, but holding on to that anger won’t help. Ignore God and keep going your own way – This is pretty much letting God know that you don’t want to change; however, God is faithful and will continue to nudge you toward transformation. Let what others say upset you – Paul must have known there was going to be negative talk about him after his transformation, but that didn’t stop him, and it shouldn’t stop us either.
God’s Guidance:
Acts 7:55-58 (NIV) – “But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.”
Acts 9:1-2 (NIV) – “Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.”
Acts 9:3-6 (NIV) – “As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.””
Acts 9:17-19 (NIV) – “Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.”
Galatians 1:13 (NIV) – “For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.”
Galatians 1:15-24 (NIV) – “But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus. Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days. I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother. I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. Then I went to Syria and Cilicia. I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they praised God because of me.”
Application:
1. Read Acts 9:1-31, which is about 7 verses a day
2. Recite and/or read five verses every day
3. Ask God to remove anything that’s hindering you from experiencing His close presence
Strength Point:
There’s no greater feeling or strengthener than experiencing God’s closeness.
Song of the Week:
Reflection Question:
What is clouding your vision?
Prayer Prompt:
Hi Jesus! Thank You for opening my eyes to who You are. You are so much greater than I could ever imagine or understand. I'm sorry for letting my awareness of You become clouded over by my worries, my sin, or my _. I want to feel your closeness. I want to notice You in my day-to-day life. I want to see the results of Your touch on someone or something. I want to be aware of what You are doing in me. I want to stand strong while knowing Your presence surrounds me when I'm _. God, I pray that You would remove anything that is hindering my view of You. Let them drop like scales from my life. Being near to You and connecting with You is what I desire most in life. Teach me to be obedient to what You ask of me, for I know it is always good. Remind me talk with You more often throughout my day. You are my light! Thank You for changing my life. I love You, Lord! In Jesus’ Name, I pray, amen.
A Prayer to Pray over Others:
Hi Jesus! Thank You For being willing to open our eyes to who You are. You are so much greater than we could ever imagine or understand. Help my friend to not let their awareness of You to become clouded over by worries, sin, or the things of this world. Create a desire in them to want to feel your closeness. To want to notice You in their day-to-day life. To want to see the results of Your touch on someone or something. To want to be aware of what You are doing in them. Give my friend the desire to want to stand strong while knowing Your presence surrounds them even in their darkest days. God, I pray that You would remove anything that is hindering their view of You. Let them drop like scales from my friend's life. Help them to hunger to be near to You and connect with You. Teach my friend to be obedient to what You ask of them, for we know it is always good. Remind them to talk with You more often throughout their day. You are our light! Thank You for having the power to change our lives. I love You, Lord! In Your Name, Jesus, I pray, amen.
April is National Counseling Awareness Month. If you’ve been ignoring the need to get help, take the time this month to reach out to a counselor.
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