Changed

Acts 9:15-16 But the Lord said to Ananias "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name" 

This is a perfect example of how God doesn't call the qualified; He qualifies the called. Saul, who is mostly known as Paul, was well known for persecuting those who proclaimed Jesus as Lord and Savior. In fact, in Acts 9 Saul was on his way to Damascus to persecute and put more Christians in prison following the stoning of Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit) in Acts 7. Saul set out to destroy the church but was stopped in his tracks by Jesus himself while on his way to Damascus. In a sense this is the mock crucifixion of Saul. The light from Heaven through which Jesus appeared to Saul caused him to be blind for 3 days (see the irony). Ananias, a disciple of the Lord, restored Saul's sight and filled him with the Holy Spirit. He then spent time with the disciples and began preaching that Jesus was the Son of God. Acts 9:27 says he preached FEARLESSLY in the name of Jesus. Isn't it funny how Saul (Paul) ended up building up what He was trying to destroy?! That's the kind of God we serve. 

God is a God of order, He is a God with a plan. Paul could not have been as instrumental in laying a solid foundation for the church A.D. had he not been Saul. He was radically changed by God so much so that there is no way you couldn't not believe that Jesus is the Son of God. No matter how deep in sin you are this is proof that God can radically change you. No one who meets the Lord returns in the same condition in which they met Him. That person must die to self and be reborn in Christ and filled with the Holy Spirit, blinded and given new eyes. When you've been chosen and changed by God you'll live differently, you'll speak differently, you'll see differently. I love that it said he FEARLESSLY preached the word. We have to boldly stand up for our God and what the Word says. 

I've recently encountered some people, like Saul, who absolutely do not believe in God. Literally laughed at our beliefs so much so that I had to stand firm on my beliefs and walk away. Honestly, at first I felt sorry for them; however, I know my God and I know that when the time is right they'll have to face Him just as Saul did. Knowing that, I found peace with where they are in their walk, but I look forward to the day the Lord calls them by name and changes them like He has done for me. It's amazing how the more you're aware of who God is the more you're aware of what He can do. 

#FearlessFAITH