Chapter 9 - Who Are You, Lord?
Today’s Journey Through Acts excerpt is:
In the previous two chapters, we have watched as seeds began to fall onto unlikely soil. Jesus told His disciples in John 12:24:
“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.”
The stoning of Stephen set the stage for life change that the early church could not have seen coming. The grain of faith had fallen and died, and a harvest was just around the corner.
Chapter nine begins with Saul continuing to escalate the persecution of the church in Jerusalem. Armed with permission from the local religious authorities to bring believers bound back to Jerusalem, Saul did not realize that the Holy Spirit was about to launch His own mission—one that would apprehend Saul himself. As Saul traveled toward Damascus, he encountered a voice and a light shining from heaven. The experience was so powerful that it left Saul lying on the ground, blinded by the light. In that moment, Saul asked a question that could serve as the foundation of every prayer a believer might pray: “Who are you, Lord?”
This question became the basis of Paul’s missionary life. Before chapter nine ends, even while the church was still wary of his intentions, verse twenty-two tells us that Saul “increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.”
Paul was, day by day, learning who the Lord was. He was learning to desire the things the Lord desired. He was learning to invest his life for the purpose of the gospel. Sometimes, as people who have been disciples for a long time, we lose sight of how powerful this prayer can be. I encourage you today to spend time learning the character, the heart, and the will of Jesus. As you learn who He is, you will also, in turn, learn a great deal about yourself.
Reflect on the Journey
Paul’s experience was both real and radical. He recounted that encounter repeatedly throughout his missionary journeys. Take some time to reflect on your own encounter with Jesus. Write down your testimony, and consider how you might be prepared to share it with the people you interact with.
Through Your Prayer Time Today
Pray the same prayer Paul prayed: “Lord, who are You?” Ask God to reveal Himself to you. As you grow in your understanding of God’s nature, you will have the opportunity to adjust your life to more closely resemble that of a disciple of Christ.
