Introductory Notes:
Thanks for reading posts. Currently in the process of editing and rewriting numerous posts. I am separating previous posts and adding new commentary, quotes, and sections while adjusting length to keep posts concise. All scripture passages are from Berean Standard Bible (BSB). This post follows:
What Really Matters In Life?
Salvation leads to transformation!
God saves us to transform us! No one who encounters God is ever left the same. This is the testimony of scripture! God changes and renews human hearts. Then He works to redeem others through their witness. He takes a young shepherd boy named David and makes him into a mighty king of Israel that set the standard for every king that followed for generations. God transforms a vicious persecutor, Paul, into an apostle who wrote most of the New Testament Epistles (letters). David, Paul, and many others serve as examples for individuals whom God radically changes and uses for His glory and advancing His Kingdom.
The Gospel accounts explain how Jesus called ordinary fishermen and tax collectors to be His disciples. These men bravely faced death and gave their lives to proclaim His Good News. The Good News of Christ was better than life apart from His truth! Thus they died as martyrs instead of denying Christ.
Paul’s Testimony
Paul is explaining Jesus’ appearance and call onto his life to King Agrippa and Governor Festus:
Acts 26:13-18 (BSB)
13About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and my companions. 14We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice say to me in Hebrew, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
15‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked.
‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. 16‘But get up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen from Me and what I will show you. 17I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’
Jesus comes to Paul with three purposes as Paul is heading to Damascus to persecute. First, Jesus appears to appoint Paul as servant and witness. It’s through Paul’s radical transformation and relationship with God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit that Paul will minister. Second, God will bring light and truth to the Jews and Gentiles through Paul’s ministry. It’s important to consider the turn from darkness to light theme. Paul asks the question who because this is his first time hearing from Jesus. Have you heard Jesus’ call to grace? Have you responded to Jesus? Notice Paul’s response to Jesus’ call:
19So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.
Religion and man-made self-righteousness is the “darkness.” Paul experiences Jesus’ grace and this becomes his ministry message. God has to first open “eyes” so that souls can receive forgiveness of sins. Notice that Jesus doesn’t mentioned a set of rules or method of “earning” or being worthy of salvation!
Thirdly, Jesus promises to “rescue Paul from”rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles.” Living Gospel truth is offensive to the religious and nonbelievers. The religious self-righteous typically oppose God’s truth. Consider God’s Prophets such Jeremiah and how the “prophets” and “religious” leaders actively opposed God’s message.
Sample Prayer: A.W. Tozer
“O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need for further grace.
I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still.
Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, so that I may know Thee indeed. Begin in mercy a new work of love within me.
Say to my soul, ‘Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away.’ Then give me grace to rise and follow Thee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long.”
A.W. Tozer
Being Faithful to Christ’s call
What really matters in life is what God “pours through us”. As believers, God has entrusted various resources and spiritual gifts to our care. What we do with all that God gives us matters!
Grape juice and wine requires that the grapes be squeezed or crushed. There is a process and our lives can make us sweet or bitter depending on how we react. Bitterness and resentment taint our lives and witness to others. The well within us can become sour and polluted. That’s why we must guard our hearts and walk away from situations wherein bitterness thrives. Healing and restoration is a process that can take many months or years.
God Pours Through Us to Refresh Others
God uses broken pots to water the surrounding soil. What the world considers to be successful and what God considers to be successful are different. How do you define success? How will you know that you are being successful? What if God calls you to a long, difficult road wherein little or no success is visible?
Mary Anoints Jesus John 6:1-3
(Matthew 26:6–13; Mark 14:3–9; Luke 7:36–50)
1Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, the hometown of Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. 2So they hosted a dinner for Jesus there. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with Him. 3Then Mary took about a pint of expensive perfume, made of pure nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
Remember Mary of Bethany who anoints Jesus with the costly perfume. She uses a very costly perfume (cost a year’s wages) to anoint Jesus prior to His death. She does this as an act of love. She willingly giving to Jesus. Her love for Jesus moved her to act. May God give us such a love for His Son!
https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-anointed.html
Recall how Judas responded:
4But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was going to betray Him, asked, 5“Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” 6Judas did not say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money bag, he used to take from what was put into it.
How someone responds indicates their true nature and character. Mary loves Jesus and this leads her to generously give to her Savior. Judas loves money and it leads him to steal from Jesus. Can you imagine stealing from Jesus’ ministry?
How will you respond to God’s call on your life? The Old Testament prophets, the Disciples, and Paul set an example for us. May God find us to be faithful and true to Him!
Words of Grace & Hope 