PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Acts 9:19b-31
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“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 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?
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!
“But Barnabas…” I can understand why people would not have trusted Saul – how could they be sure this wasn’t some kind of trick so that they would be arrested and processed by the leaders? But – the key word here for me: Barnabas stepped in and stuck up for Saul – that He now was one of them. I need to be a “but” in our broader community – will to stand up for Jesus – not to be complacent anymore when people mock believing in Jesus. Help me to bear effective testimony – to make others think – to be the ‘but’ – have you considered Jesus’ claim – can you just ignore it?
What a transformation of Saul. He became an instrument of His peace proclaiming the good news. And the encouragement he received from others when his life was in danger. God’s mysterious way to spread the gospel. Saul was empowered by the Spirit. May I too be Spirit driven being His servant doing His will in word and deed this day and always. Christ Jesus living within me.
Spirit of the Living God,
Fall afresh on me,
Spirit of the Living God,
Fall afresh on me.
Break me, melt me, mold me, fill me.
Spirit of the Living God,
Fall afresh on me.