#16 | Take Time to Think
Read: Acts 9:19-43
Meditate on your own:
- What aspects of Saul’s ministry stand out to you? What aspects of Peter’s ministry stand out to you?
- Take a few minutes and read Luke 4:16-30 and Luke 8:49-56. What similarities do you notice between Jesus’s ministry and Saul and Peter’s respective ministries?
- What about Peter and Saul’s ministries do you find encouraging? What do you find challenging?
- What verse/phrase in this text stands out to you?
- What truth about God or mankind can you draw from that verse/phrase?
- Where else is this truth seen in Scripture?
- What are the implications of your response to question a)? What would be the implications if this weren’t true?
- How is this truth good news for you and others? Who needs to hear it?
- What does this truth reveal about your own heart?
- What are some ways you can respond to the truth of this passage? Is there something you need to repent of? What do you need to ask God for? What can you thank/praise God for?
Consider
In a matter of days, Paul had gone from violently persecuting the church to championing its Lord and Savior. Saul’s conversion seemed dramatic, and it was, so dramatic that many did not believe him. However, Saul’s conversion dramatically demonstrates what is true of every conversion. Like everyone else who becomes a Christian, Saul had not simply misunderstood the Bible and had Jesus miraculously correct his interpretation of it. Nor had Saul simply realized that he was following the wrong rules and started following the right ones. Saul had not simply changed his mind — he was given a new heart. God had removed his heart of stone and given him a heart of flesh that beat for the glory of God and the good of his neighbors. He now loved the things he used to hate, and he was ashamed of the things he used to love (Philippians 3:3-11; Romans 6:19-23).
Formerly Saul had hated the members of the church, but now he loved them and spent his days with them. Similarly, he hated God’s word, especially what is said about Jesus, but now he loved it and spent his days trusting it, obeying it, and declaring it. Likewise, he had opposed those who spread the good news of Jesus Christ, but now he desired for others to hear it and believe with him.
These same things are true for everyone who trusts in Jesus as their Savior and submits to him as Lord. They are given a new heart that loves what God loves and hates what God hates. Specifically, they love God’s word and people and desire to share the gospel with others. Certainly, no Christian does any of these perfectly. In fact, they will likely be very aware of how imperfectly they do all these things (Philippians 3:12-13). Nevertheless, by the power of God’s Spirit, they “press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of [them]” (Philippians 3:12).
If you would say you are a Christian, examine yourself. Do you love God’s word and his people, and desire for others to know him, however poor that love may seem? If someone saw everything you did and knew the thoughts of your heart, would they agree with your assessment of yourself? Talk to God and a close friend about your self-assessment and how you can grow in your love for God and others.
Pray:
Use the acronym IOUS, turning the prayers of the Psalmist into your own.
Incline my heart to you and not to prideful gain or any false motive!
Psalm 119:36
Open my eyes to behold wonderous things out of your Word.
Psalm 119:18
Unite my heart to fear your name.
Psalm 86:11
Satisfy me with your steadfast love.
Psalm 90:14
