THE STORY OF JESUS: Acts 9:19b-31
“Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit…” (Acts 9:31)
I love the combination of ideas in this verse: fear and encouragement.
This is the difference that knowing Jesus makes.
He shows us that God is still sovereign and holy and mighty.
But He infuses us with love and joy and peace as well.
We still live in the fear of the Lord, but not dread or terror.
“With deepest, tenderest fears”, said Frederick Faber.
Paul must have lived with a constant sense of wonder and awe.
His encounter with Jesus transformed him, his life would never be the same.
Is your sense and experience of God richer, deeper, fuller?
Is your spirit encouraged by His Spirit in the awesomeness of God?
As a Jesus follower, we live in a world filled with God’s glory.
But even more, God’s glory lives in and fills and energizes us.
If I think about it, it makes me want to kneel and jump at the same time!
Jesus changes our experience of God and ourselves – are you feeling it?
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, I see in You everything that is awesome about God. But I also see everything that is amazing about me as God’s child. Grant me this deep, tender fear, fill me with this love, joy and peace!
The Light of the world is Jesus.
Saul saw that Light and in Damascus he received not only his sight but also the Holy Spirit and he was baptized – ready for service. Prepared.
He learned the truth – Jesus is Lord.
I too need to accept Christ as Lord in order for Him to be my Saviour.
Saul spent time with the disciples to prepare for ministry, to proclaim the Message. The Lord equips His people.
God gives His people strength.
If we believe in His way, He’s swift to repay
All those who bear the burden of the day
God gives His people strength.
Come to the light, ’tis shining for thee;
Sweetly the light has dawned upon me;
Once I was blind, but now I can see:
The Light of the world is Jesus!