I am now reading in Acts 9, some of which I will summarize, and some of which I will quote in the NASB1995.
Saul, who later became the apostle Paul, was still on a rampage against the followers of Jesus Christ, and he was on his way to Damascus to persecute even more followers of The Way.
So, how was Saul persecuting Jesus? By persecuting his followers who were part of his body, the body of Christ. But God/Jesus had another plan for the life of Saul, which he was about to learn.
Then the Lord called Ananias, a disciple of Christ, to go speak to Saul, but he was very hesitant to go because of Saul’s reputation of being a persecutor of those of faith in Jesus Christ.
Saul regained his sight, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and was baptized by Ananias. Within just a few days he was already proclaiming Jesus Christ in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” But the Jews plotted together to do away with him, but the disciples rescued him. And later Saul became the apostle Paul who penned most the books in the New Testament.
So, what can we learn from this? For one, no one is too evil or too far gone to be saved from his sins, and to be given a new life in Christ to be lived for the glory of God and for his purposes. If we are willing, and if we will respond to God’s calling upon our lives, and by God-persuaded faith in him if we will repent of (turn from) our sins and now follow our Lord in obedience to his commands, we will have salvation from sin and eternal life with God, but provided we continue in those walks of faith, in practice, until the end.
Gospel:[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]
What else can we learn from this? We should not write anyone off as too far gone and thus assume that there is no need to speak to them about Jesus. And we must not be reluctant to speak to anyone about Jesus, presuming that they will not listen. We also must be sensitive to the voice of the Spirit speaking within us letting us know where we should go, and to whom we should speak, and as to what we should say. And we should pray for divine appointments, to be used by God to speak truth into other people’s lives.
And we should not listen to the lies of the enemy who will try to discourage us from being the Lord’s messengers in taking the message of the gospel to the people of the world. And Satan will fight against us in so many different ways, hoping that we will go by our feelings, and not by faith, and so that we will not follow through with God’s will and purpose for our lives. He will try to instill fear in us so that we lack faith and obedience to our Lord. But our Lord called us, too, to suffer for the sake of His Name and for his gospel.
My Sheep
Based off John 10:1-30 NIV
An Original Work / June 24, 2012
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love
My sheep hear me. They know me.
They listen to my voice and obey.
I call them and lead them.
They know my voice, so they follow me.
They will never follow strangers.
They will run away from them.
The voice of a stranger they know not;
They do not follow him.
So, I tell you the truth that
I am the gate, so you enter in.
Whoever does enter
Will find forgiveness and will be saved.
Nonetheless whoever enters
Not by the gate; other way,
He is the thief and a robber.
Listen not, the sheep to him.
Oh, I am the Good Shepherd,
Who laid his own life down for the sheep.
I know them. They know me.
They will live with me eternally.
The thief only comes to steal and
Kill and to destroy the church.
I have come to give you life that
You may have it to the full…
They know my voice, so they follow me.
Have No Fear
An Original Work / September 10, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love
Saul, who later became the apostle Paul, was still on a rampage against the followers of Jesus Christ, and he was on his way to Damascus to persecute even more followers of The Way.
“As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ And he said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.’” (Acts 9:3-6)
So, how was Saul persecuting Jesus? By persecuting his followers who were part of his body, the body of Christ. But God/Jesus had another plan for the life of Saul, which he was about to learn.
Then the Lord called Ananias, a disciple of Christ, to go speak to Saul, but he was very hesitant to go because of Saul’s reputation of being a persecutor of those of faith in Jesus Christ.
“But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.’” (Acts 9:15-16)
Saul regained his sight, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and was baptized by Ananias. Within just a few days he was already proclaiming Jesus Christ in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” But the Jews plotted together to do away with him, but the disciples rescued him. And later Saul became the apostle Paul who penned most the books in the New Testament.
So, what can we learn from this? For one, no one is too evil or too far gone to be saved from his sins, and to be given a new life in Christ to be lived for the glory of God and for his purposes. If we are willing, and if we will respond to God’s calling upon our lives, and by God-persuaded faith in him if we will repent of (turn from) our sins and now follow our Lord in obedience to his commands, we will have salvation from sin and eternal life with God, but provided we continue in those walks of faith, in practice, until the end.
Gospel:[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]
What else can we learn from this? We should not write anyone off as too far gone and thus assume that there is no need to speak to them about Jesus. And we must not be reluctant to speak to anyone about Jesus, presuming that they will not listen. We also must be sensitive to the voice of the Spirit speaking within us letting us know where we should go, and to whom we should speak, and as to what we should say. And we should pray for divine appointments, to be used by God to speak truth into other people’s lives.
And we should not listen to the lies of the enemy who will try to discourage us from being the Lord’s messengers in taking the message of the gospel to the people of the world. And Satan will fight against us in so many different ways, hoping that we will go by our feelings, and not by faith, and so that we will not follow through with God’s will and purpose for our lives. He will try to instill fear in us so that we lack faith and obedience to our Lord. But our Lord called us, too, to suffer for the sake of His Name and for his gospel.
My Sheep
Based off John 10:1-30 NIV
An Original Work / June 24, 2012
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love
My sheep hear me. They know me.
They listen to my voice and obey.
I call them and lead them.
They know my voice, so they follow me.
They will never follow strangers.
They will run away from them.
The voice of a stranger they know not;
They do not follow him.
So, I tell you the truth that
I am the gate, so you enter in.
Whoever does enter
Will find forgiveness and will be saved.
Nonetheless whoever enters
Not by the gate; other way,
He is the thief and a robber.
Listen not, the sheep to him.
Oh, I am the Good Shepherd,
Who laid his own life down for the sheep.
I know them. They know me.
They will live with me eternally.
The thief only comes to steal and
Kill and to destroy the church.
I have come to give you life that
You may have it to the full…
They know my voice, so they follow me.
Have No Fear
An Original Work / September 10, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love
