Passion Personified

 

Readings:  Acts 9:14-15

      Acts 7: 54-8:1

 

“He always goes for the gusto.”  “She’s just like the energizer bunny.”  Have you referred to friends or colleagues in this manner? I know several people whom I would refer to as “passionate” or “zealous.”  They seem to have unending energy as they pursue a cause or objective.

 

In the book of Acts and in many of the New Testament letters written by Paul, we can’t miss the fact that Saul [later called Paul after his conversion to Christ] was the epitome of zeal.  I picture it as a sphere around which many arrows are pointing outward, showing energy going out from the center of the sphere. This was Saul, while he stood watch over the clothes of the men who stoned the disciple Stephen, and “in full agreement with killing him (Acts 7:58; 8:1).” This was Saul as he was “breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples (Acts 9:1).”  And this was Saul when he went from town-to-town with “authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on [Jesus’] name (Acts 9:14).” 

 

Wow, I think I might go so far as to say he was obsessed with his objective to wipe out all Jesus-followers! So how could a man considered the “arch-persecutor” of the followers of Jesus turn 180 degrees from his pursuit and actually becoming the pursued?  And why would he do it?  Simply put, he had an encounter with the Son of the Living God! (read about it in Acts 9: 1-9)

 

He was the Lord’s “chosen instrument to carry [His] name before” all people – Jews, Gentiles, kings (Acts 9:15).  God channeled Paul’s fervor to grow His church. Paul’s obsession now became one of reaching the known world for Christ.  He was intent on preserving the truth of the Gospel – devoted to keeping fellow believers zealous in their faith. He told them, “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord (Rom 12:11).”

 

How grateful I am that God transformed Paul’s zeal for a good, holy purpose. You and I are the beneficiaries of his passion to communicate the Gospel.

 

Lord, give me such zeal for you and your Word that those around me may be beneficiaries of your grace and mercy.  “One holy passion filling all my frame…, my heart an altar, and your love the flame.”

ZEALOUS FOR GOOD DEEDS

Scripture: Ephesians 2: 8-10

You may have experienced this before. You read a portion of scripture – and the whole rest of the week God brings further “messages” related to what you read to “bring home” the lesson He wants to impress on your heart. A sermon, a Bible study, a conversation with a friend or co-worker may trigger the thought the Holy Spirit is trying to grab your attention about.

 

That happened to me this week, as I read and pondered especially verse 10 of today’s reading. “for you are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”  It triggered the question, “How is this related to my last week’s Bible study?”  My Thursday women’s group is studying the Fruit of the Spirit – last week’s was on “Goodness.”

A verse that stood out for me was Titus 2:14, “[Christ Jesus] gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.”

As I looked at these two verses, a phrase from each stood out: God has already prepared good works for me to do, and He has prepared (purified) me to zealously do good deeds.

So if He has the good deeds all ready to go, and He has given me an eagerness to do them, all that needs to happen is to get me connected with those specific deeds He has for me!  One way that helps me identify a specific act as “mine” is to say to God as I am going into a store, a restaurant, or a specific setting where I will have the possibility of interacting with people, “You know who will be here and their need for a good deed.  Remove my blinders of self-absorption in the task I came to do.  Open my eyes to really see people.”

God has given some wonderful opportunities for me to encourage a cashier, to help a fellow customer reach for an item, or to offer to pray for someone.  Seem insignificant?  Not to the person you have acknowledged, nor to our Father, who sees that the good works He has planned are being accomplished one deed at a time!

Thank you, Father, that you created me for good works – even more, that You redeemed me so I might be zealous to do these good works for Your glory. Keep me walking toward my assigned good deeds! Amen.

Miracle of Mercy

I Timothy 1:12-17

Paul was a zealous man in all he did. Until he met Christ on the road to Damascus, he fiercely pursued Jesus-followers, persecuting them and blaspheming their God.  “He went around ravaging the church, entering house after house, dragging off men and women, and put them in prison (Acts 8:3).”  When Paul was on his way to Damascus, hoping to carry out further murderous plans, Jesus came and changed his course forever [See Acts 9:1-22 for the dramatic story of Paul’s conversion]. 

Jesus had different plans for Paul – He would use Paul’s zeal for the Father’s holy purposes. “He [Paul] is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel (Acts 9:15).” 

In I Timothy 1:12-17, Paul is reflecting on the miracle of his conversion. Not only did Jesus show mercy toward Paul, who, according to his own definition, was the “worst of sinners,” but also considered Paul a faithful and useful servant.  How Paul must have forever marveled that Jesus would even consider putting him into service after all Paul had done against His name and His people! Paul did however realize that, through his life, Christ would show sinners like us His purpose in coming to our planet. We see the Lord’s patience toward sinners in order to bring them to Himself.  We might say, “If God can do this for (in) someone like Paul, as chief sinner, it shows He can do it for anyone, no matter what they (we) have done.” 

So what have you done that you feel disqualifies you from service?  Even more, what is that “worst” sin you think will keep you from Christ’s saving grace?  Remember Paul’s example…and be assured that you, too can be a miracle of God’s amazing grace and mercy.  You, too, will be put into service for Christ’s kingdom.  You, too, can be a modern-day example of Christ’s patience toward sinners.  You, too, can speak of what He has done in your life – His amazing story in you.  I know He has given me a story; and I ask, Lord, that I may be bold to tell it to other sinners who need to know You will never give up on them – no matter what.