Paul thought he knew all there was to know about God, but on the road to Damascus what he learned changed his life. Paul was a very intelligent Jew who traveled in prestigious religious circles. He had permission to persecute people from this new religious sect, Christians.
While travelling on the road, a great light struck him blind and he heard the words of God speaking to him. I am sure it is terrifying coming close to something you know only to find out, you don’t know it at all.
He learned that God on the inside of your heart is better than head knowledge. He knew the more of himself that decreased, allowed God to increase and change the world.
Ever thought you were going somewhere, but it turned out that wasn’t it at all? Trust the process.
He is just getting started. Naomi thought her life was over. Her husband was dead. Her sons were dead. There was nothing left to live for. She went home to die.
Instead she found a daughter-in-law who would not desert her. She found a God who would not desert her. He made her later years better than her beginning.
He gives us a chance anyway. Saul looked like he could fit
the role. But the important things Saul needed, he lacked. God knew Saul’s
character flaws but gave him a chance anyway.
Saul ruled Israel for 40 years but never really understood
the role.
He failed miserably. God knows when we are going to fail. He always gives us the opportunity to turn to Him. Those who do find redemption.
make sure you answer. God first called Samuel’s name when he was a young boy. It changed everything for everyone around. Samuel listened for God all of his life and had an incredible journey from anointing kings to advising them. Again, this is a drawing based on work by photography by James C Lewis.
I remember it was in between the first and second service
when the worship pastor pulled out a flip chart in the center of the worship
team. It was not what I was expecting. Normally we do this thing where everyone
checks in and tells what God is doing in their life.
He said to us, he wanted to do something a little different
because he cared about our relationship with God.
He drew a circle. He placed an x inside the circle. He
placed another one outside the circle.
He said many people do church like this.
The X on the inside represented people who came to church regular.
Served and participated. They were doing good works. They were checking things
off the list of the things they had been taught to do.
People on the outside of the circle were not into serving or
coming every time the church was open. They were not considered one of the
in-crowd people. They were thought to be far away from God.
On the other side he wrote God. He put an x close, then one
far away. He drew arrows pointing the x toward God. He said it is not so much
that we are serving but serving is good. He asked are you doing what you are
doing with a heart for Jesus or checking things off a list?
He asked if we had a heart for the things God has a heart
for. It was more than coming to church every Sunday. It was more than serving
and giving. It was about what kind of heart do we have for God. What heart motives
our relationship with God?
He challenged us to check our heart’s motives. Is our life
and service drawing us closer to God?
As a result, I have been asking God about my heart towards
Him. He has been answering. I have found him in places I wouldn’t have under
ordinary circumstances. In revisiting old things, He has shown me Himself in a
new way.
This past week, I watched the movie Paul, the Apostle of Christ again. One thing this movie does well
for me, is shows how to love in a hard space. Watching Christians being burned
alive or sent to face wild animal attacks in Nero’s circus reminded me that
true Christians never have it easy. Yet
what absolutely sold me was the word of God being an active participant.
Now the only thing that changed in my second viewing of this
film is me. I watched as Paul continued to stress this love. I still don’t
understand it, but I know it is important to God.
My challenge to you is that there is something stirring deep
within you. Ask the Holy Spirit to change your heart for Him. God has promised that his love is longer,
deeper, wider, and much higher than anything we can imagine. There have been
moments this week His love has taken me into the stratosphere. There have been some moments when it just
wrecked me. His love is great.
I double dog dare you to ask God to show you His love.
James C Lewis, an international photographer, created a series
of images of people from the Bible. I
was inspired by his images and have drawn the ones that I like the most. This
month we will turn back time follow some of mt favorite bible people. The first
one is Jesus.
In the current bible study I am doing, Beth Moore has taught us that the name Saul meant “Asked For” He was a king they asked for. It reminds me that some of the things that I ask for look good on the outside, but woe the trouble it brings. This drawing is based on James C Lewis’ photograph Saul. Lewis created a series of images with People of Color in the role of Bible characters.
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