I love a good God story. Don’t you? Acts 9 gives us a glimpse of one of the most powerful redemption stories in history: A hard-hearted man bent on destroying Christianity meets Jesus, and his life is forever transformed.
Paul turned from his pride and fully surrendered to the Savior. I get goosebumps thinking about how Jesus stopped him in his tracks and turned his life around forever.
At my home church, my pastor likes to say a relationship with Jesus changes everything. It was true for Paul. He was never the same again.
How about you, friend? Have you had your Damascus moment with Jesus? Has He opened your eyes to see you need forgiveness? Have you received the Good News that you no longer need to strive to save yourself because Jesus died in your place on the cross? Like Paul, we can surrender all to Jesus and experience His amazing grace.
Keep in mind, Paul persevered through great opposition as he moved forward in faith. He had to say yes to Jesus every day of his life. Even when it was hard and he didn’t see His hand, Paul continued to choose Christ. He “kept the faith” and finished well.
To pursue Christ fully, we must adopt a different perspective than the worldly influencers around us. We must be willing to walk alone as we seek to know Jesus, rather walking to satisfy our flesh. Like the early believers in Acts whom Paul served, we must choose to lay our very lives on the altar.
Despite the great persecution they faced, these Christ-followers chose to fear God, not people.
“Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced peace and thus was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, the church increased in numbers” – Acts 9:31
My sisters, you will never regret presenting your life as a living sacrifice. Dying to self and surrendering all to Jesus will yield the sweetest fruit.
- Even in the midst of many problems, you will experience God’s peace.
- When the obstacles are too heavy for you to carry, the Lord Himself will give you His strength.
- On discouraging days, the Holy Spirit will comfort you and give you wise counsel.
Today, let’s resolve to daily say “Jesus, I surrender all to you.” Trust that the Holy Spirit will empower you with supernatural peace, strength, and encouragement. Your transformed life will testify to the watching world that your Savior is the way, the truth, and the life.
