How God Uses Me

Acts 26:1-23

Paul was amazing, simply amazing.  He has an incredible conversion experience (see Acts 9, and the Bible Blast from June 9).  He goes onto become one of the pillars of the early church.  God transformed his life - from one who opposed Jesus of Nazareth (Acts 26:9) to one who preaches the good news of Jesus Christ to the jews and the Gentiles (Acts 26:19-23).

God transformed him for a purpose.  The Damascus Road experience was not just an emotional high, followed by coming back down to earth and a normal, plodding existence.  Paul was obedient to God's call, and because of that, countless men and women opened their eyes and turned from darkness to light.  (Acts 26:18).

How easy it is for me to say, well, I'm not that important.  I'm a 'regular' person.  I don't have that special call from God.  He's not going to use me the way he used Paul.

Maybe not.  Definitely not, if we don't give him the opportunity.

Very soon, I will be embarking on a new phase of my life called 'retirement.'  I'm excited and nervous about this adventure.  What if I'm bored?  What if I don't have enough to do?  What if, what if, what if?

What if God has something really exciting planned for me?  Am I listening to him?  Tim Keller puts it well when he says:

One of the main reasons we trust God too little is because we trust our own wisdom too much.

God had plans for Paul.  God has plans for you, and God has plans for me.  But he won't beat us over the head and force us to follow him.  Yes, he will use a blinding light on the road to Damascus.  But Paul had to take the next step - he had to obey.

Lord, help me to listen to you, and to go where you lead.  Amen.