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Acts 26:12-18 Devotional
by Bobby Bruno "On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. About noon, O King, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, "Saul, Saul, who do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads." Then I asked, "Who are you, Lord?" "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting," the Lord replied. "Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. I will rescue you from your own people and from Gentiles. I am sending you to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me."" Acts 26:1218 NIV In Matthew 28:19, Jesus told us to, "So wherever you go, make disciples of all nations: Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (GW). In Acts 26:16-18, Jesus is telling Paul pretty much the same thing. Paul's example to us in his retelling of his conversion follows a simple pattern that he himself followed all through his ministry. That pattern was that they only topic he would tell of was the topic of the cross and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul stuck to that simple pattern and thousands were saved, many churches were started, and Christianity began to grow and flourish in every nation, just as Jesus proclaimed. It's a shame today that many believe that that simple pattern is not enough. Instead of just simply telling people their need for Jesus and why, many churches use long programs and such to get to that one simple point that Jesus died and rose again. I was once part of a program entitled Foundation which invited unbelievers to a four week class that spoke of why they need Jesus. I left that program when I realized that it confused than helped people come to Christ. When that ministry reduced itself to calling people who checked off an interest to know more about Jesus on their tear-off cards I got back on board. More people were brought to Christ during those phone calls than in the months that the longer program ran. Keep it simple, stupid is a truth among truths. Paul did it and it succeeded above and beyond anything I believe Paul thought it would. Christ crucified and Christ risen. How much easier can evangelizing get? Bobby Bruno was saved 15 years ago in a way that left him no doubt that Jesus wanted him to reach others with His great and abounding love. He started writing at the age of 12 and hasn't stopped since. He achieved Associates Degree in Biblical Studies from Ohio Christian University in early 2014. Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |