Tuesday 16 Apr 2013

Tuesday Reading: Acts 9:10-16

Key Verse: Acts 9:15
15  But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

Devotion:
Why do we doubt that God can do anything when we have been reminded time and time again that He is able and willing to do so much? Still we have our doubts and none more so that when we are faced by someone who just does not look like a Christian! I have come across some pretty strange characters in my time, but equally many may look upon me as being strange – so why should I be the one who chooses who works for God?

God is the one who is omniscient and omnipotent. God is the one who has planned things the way they are. Yes we seem to try our best to destroy what God has built up, but He continues to fulfil His will despite our worst actions. When Ananias was faced with going to meet Paul for the first time he was very sceptical because Paul was one of the men who was destroying Christians. He was doing what he though was good in his own eyes and in the guise of religion. But when God came to him and forced him to see what he was doing and admit to his sins, Paul did the right thing and repented of his sins.

If we are willing to repent of our own sins then God is willing to forgive us of those sins. That means that no sin is ever going to stand ground when we admit it and bring it to God. You may ask about the ‘unforgivable’ sin; but if we are coming to admit our sin then we are expressing belief in God – that has just overcome that unforgivable sin, unbelief.

Ananias was faced with a worldly choice in order to test his own faith. God may well use the world around us to test our faith as well. We should be willing to put up with what comes our way knowing that God is in control and knowing that as long as we trust Him, He will deliver us to the place where He can best use us. We may not like the look of what we are going in to and we may be frightened to take those first few steps, but because God is already there waiting to hold our hands as we walk with Him, we can be sure that He will keep us for His good pleasure.

Points to Ponder:
Do you doubt other people’s intentions?

Do you doubt God’s intentions?