By Pastor William Y. K. Brown Ph.D
(Resident Pastor)
Seventh-day Adventist Church
Osu-Bethel.
Tel: 0244165628/0243310773.
wykbrown@gmail.com
FRIDAY
THEME: SAUL’S EXPERIENCE WITH THE I AM: DIVINE ACTION AND GRACE, PART I
SCRIPTURE: Acts 9:5
“And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”
REFLECTIONS:
God allows everyone the opportunity to encounter Him for the sake of salvation. When the privilege is given, it behooves the individual or group to heed the call and respond to the voice of God. Every invitation by God is purposed to save one into eternal life. God will not hold anyone responsible for what He had not exposed the person to; that is why Acts 17:30 states, “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent.” Jesus comes close to humanity “so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being, . . . ‘For we are also His offspring.’”- Acts 17:27,28.
Saul was seriously fighting members of the Way – a man who was determined in his mind and heart to cause havoc to the cause of Jesus Christ. Little did he know that his conduct was an affront and a fight against the life-giver, Jesus Christ. Acts 9:3-5 reports Saul’s life-changing encounter: “[3]As he journeyed, he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. [4]Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” [5]And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” This was a stubborn heart arrested by God. The text establishes that any opposition we give to God, His word, and commandments is a clear opposition to the lordship of Jesus Christ.
For Saul’s conversion, Jesus chose to confront him directly. This approach effectively made the necessary impact in drawing the avowed enemy of the Way to the Lord he hated. Saul was so haughty with pride and hatred that he had to fall to the ground to learn the lesson of humility and submission to God’s power. In his encounter, he asked, “Who are You, Lord?” He acknowledged that a power from God alone could engage him in this manner. His point of conviction, conversion, and transformation came when Jesus introduced Himself to him as the One Saul was persecuting, not the believers. “So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” – verse 6.
Jesus stated a truism that every believer should ponder today: “It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” He made it clear to Saul that all his efforts to prevent the spreading of the Gospel were in vain – he was fighting a losing battle. If he continued to follow his own ideas and choices, he would end up disappointed, a failure, and a fool. He should instead ally with God rather than oppose Him. What does this mean to the modern person? It simply means you cannot resist the Lord Jesus Christ with your disobedient heart and life. You cannot pursue your actions and decisions contrary to His will and succeed. If you do not bring in Christ, your life will be messed up, frustrated, and even a curse to your birth. The truth is, as the Holy Spirit entreats and convicts you, if you refuse to heed His voice, God out of mercy, will give you another opportunity, but with a more challenging experience to catch your attention. If you ask Jesus what you want me to do today, He will reveal His will to you.
MY SONG OF COMMITMENT
SDAH 296 – “Lord, I’m Coming Home” – From Songs and Everlasting Joy
LET US PRAY
– Praise and thank God for His unfailing mercies; thank God for personally reaching out to you out of love; pray to walk close to Him in obedience;
– Pray for young people born into Christian homes but are deflecting from Christ, families that have lost their spiritual fervor, and people in the valley of deciding for Christ;
– Pray for workers who work under dangerous conditions; pray for the conversion of stiff-necked family members and friends, hard-hearted criminals, prisoners, and terrorists;
– Pray for the peace and security of nations and countries preparing for elections, the reduction of wars and insurgencies, and the spread of the Gospel of Christ worldwide.
