180

Acts 22:6–11

“About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute Me?’ “‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked. “ ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ He replied. My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of Him who was speaking to me. “‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked. “ ‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’ My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me.”

The Apostle Paul recounts (in Aramaic, his native language) his marvellous encounter with God and how he did a 180-degree turn in his life. This is witnessing 101, it appears it starts with making a connection with one’s listeners when given a hearing then proceed to relate what God has done or how God had met you. God is mighty to save (Zeph 3:17), and our backgrounds, history, our context does not matter when it comes to the privilege of His grace and love, we are all within His reach. Every saint had a past and every sinner has a future. The Living Life writer notes that “the Gospel has the power to transform even the most hardened of hearts.” God in His sovereignty foreordained our lives so that we all have the opportunity “to seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from any one of us (Acts 17:27).” God is always close even to the sinner who seems to have run away so far, He is waiting right round the bend to embrace the lost and through our witness we help others see and experience His love for all. There is much celebration, “there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:10),” let us join in preparing that party by interceding for our friends and family, the Great Commission is a gift unto those who work on it as well. God Holy Spirit bring us many opportunities to share our faith and help us to be sensitive to your prompts, guard and guide our hearts, in Christ’s name. Amen.