Acts 9 - 9.12.24
S - Acts 9:15-16: 15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
O – Saul had just signed off on the killing of Stephen in Acts 8, which then caused the scattering of Christians beyond Jerusalem and into Judea and Samaria. This persecution forced the believers out of their homes and along with them went the spreading of the Gospel. (God’s ways are mysterious and amazing.) Along the way, many lives were converted. Acts 9 finds Saul on his way to Damascus to find as many believers as he could and take them to Jerusalem as prisoners. God had another plan! He was going to use this man’s hatred towards Him and His people and cause a complete 180 in his way of thinking, therefore, causing Saul to become one of the most influential witnesses for Christ!
A - How often do we complain about the horrible state of our City, our Country, our world!? I am soooo guilty of this, especially this past year. I find myself filled with anger and bitterness daily over the complete lack of integrity and kindness from people, the amount of hatred and depravity we have all over the world! Currently we are getting ready for the upcoming elections which brings another layer of fear, division, and complete chaos in the world. The ongoing school shootings that emotionally wreck us. There is just so much evil out there for us to walk in the midst of. We can’t escape it and it isn’t our job to fix it. Pastor Levi just preached last week about why we have to live in a world with such evil and what our jobs actually are. Please do yourself a favor if you missed it, put aside some time to watch it. You won’t be sorry. Click the following link or just copy and paste this link: https://youtu.be/L0Q4NIC3gjw
When will we get that GOD IS IN CHARGE!?
Psalm 46:10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.
11 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
He always has been with us, and always will be. All these evil things are indeed awful, but no surprise to God. He is working through His people in all these tragedies, and this isn’t the end for us as Believers. If we keep on seeking Him and focus on our own growth, as we share God’s love with others, we will be seen, we will be heard, and we will be believed that God is real; that God loves even the evil ones and He is waiting for them to turn to Him and do His will, just as Saul did! That man was killing believers…plotting against them ... conspiring ways to arrest them. He was on the wrong mission and God changed Him completely! He can do that for us too! He has chosen us, just like Saul, to be His instruments in this fallen world. Let’s do everything possible not to become fearful, bitter and angry, because that does not show anyone the hope that we have (SHOULD HAVE), knowing how this ends. He is a good God who loves us and will use us if we let Him. And if you are part of the DSC family, let’s work harder at growing together. One of the ways we can continue our growth is by being a part of the Wednesday evenings for worship and discipleship, serving at our park days the opposite Wednesdays, and serving together as a church family on Sundays. There is an array of ministry opportunities. If you don’t know where to begin, please feel free to reach out to any of our leaders for more information on how to get started….and get started! If you aren’t part of the DSC family, go serve in your community. Help a neighbor with some groceries, a ride, a meal, a cup of coffee and conversation. There are a lot of lonely people out there. Show others the love of God and watch as lives are transformed. Perhaps your own.
P – Lord, I ask you to forgive me for the bitterness I have let creep into my own heart and for the anger that has been festering within my soul and finding its way to the surface in unhealthy ways. That is not who I want to be, and it isn’t any way to show people that I have a hope beyond this world. That even though yes, things can be very difficult at times, and there are many things we don’t wish to be happening, we know that you are working on our behalf and that gives us the strength to continue our work here on earth for as long as you see fit to keep us here. Forgive us as a Church for not always walking out our faith in a way that glorifies you. Help us to stay Christ-centered and not self-centered in all that we do. Help us to be open to all the ways you are growing us to be more like Jesus. May my life be a total conversion, as was Saul’s! In Jesus’ name I pray!
- Crystal Flory
