Title: God Never Gives Up
Content e="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; LINE-HEIGHT: 21px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Rollimche'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 13px"> This text records Paul's conversion. It is a very important event that Paul, who was persecuting Christians, was transformed and became a witness of the gospel. There is something the Lord wants us to realize through this. There are things we need to know in order to change our lives and become a life of faith that lives differently.
1. God's love is persistent.
God's love is so persistent that even if we give up on ourselves, God never gives up. Only when I realize this will my life change.
In verse 1 of the text, it is recorded that Saul's heart, who was trying to arrest the Christians in Damascus, was "still threatening and living with the disciples of the Lord." My heart is full of hatred to capture and kill Christians. Jesus came to Saul on the road to Damascus.(:4)
In the name of the Lord, I bless you that the heart of God who does not give up on us and wants to embrace us to the end will be contained in you through these words today.
2. See yourself right.
Saul in the text had his own standards for all judgments. They say they believe in God, but in reality they believe in themselves. But the moment Saul met Jesus, who came as a light brighter than the sun, I began to see how poor and proud I was, making judgments based on my knowledge and judging even the God who created me. After that, Paul daily confesses that “I am chief among sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15).
And Saul's next question, “Who are you, Lord?” (:5) is a surprising question. Because this is where my past begins to be interpreted. ‘Faith’ is the correct interpretation of my past. I come to understand and interpret why God made these things happen to me. Therefore, I bless you in the name of the Lord that you may look after yourself before God.
3. Leave it completely to God.
In Acts 22, the same event as the text is recorded in the form of Paul's testimony. In Paul's testimony, to Paul's question of who he is, Jesus' answer, "I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting" (Acts 22:8), followed by Paul's question, "Lord, what shall I do?" (Acts 22:10) .
These words are Paul's confession of self-renunciation to do whatever he tells you to do. In other words, it is the story of leaving it to God. Those who have truly met God and have found themselves rightly in God learn to put themselves in God's hands.
We are the living God, children of the power who created the world. Now I want you to entrust your life to God. God will take charge of your life, guide you, and protect you.