Acts__9

Scripture - What stood out?ACTS 9 

...Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.Observation - What does it say?Acts 9 recounts Saul’s conversion and immediate thrust into ministry preaching Jesus as the Messiah. Saul who had mercilessly persecuted Jesus and his followers, is miraculously converted by Jesus with the help of the Holy Spirit.Understanding - What does it mean?I could probably write about the story of Saul of Tarsus who later became known as the apostle Paul for a very very long time. But what stood out to me about this chapter in Acts was how quickly Saul began to preach about Jesus. Not just anywhere either but in the synagogues where the same Jewish leaders, (where Saul himself!) were trying to root out and persecute and destroy Jesus followers!Saul began preaching after several days. This is what stood out to me in Amos 6:1 Woe to you who are complacent in Zion…Saul began proving to the Jewish leaders pretty much immediately after his conversion that Jesus was in fact the anointed one, the son of David, the son of God Himself.Life Application - How can I apply this to my life today?Lord it has been heavy on my heart lately, that I am not moving with enough urgency in all that you have asked me to do. I don’t know what to do differently because I get so caught up with the world. I know that my place in Your story is different from the apostle Paul’s but I also know I have grown complacent. Help me to hear the Holy Spirit speaking to me. Where do I need to improve? Where do I need to grow? Show me Lord the areas of my complacency, where I may be blind, and peel away the scales from my eyes. In the name of Jesus do I pray, amen.-kenneth lee