Peaceful Paths: Daily Devotions for the Soul

MONDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER 2024

TEXT: Acts 22:6-16

6. “But as I was on my way, approaching Damascus about noontime, a great blaze of light suddenly flashed from heaven and shone around me.

7. And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are persecuting Me?’

8. And I replied, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’

9. Now those who were with me saw the light, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me.

10. And I asked, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And He answered me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that is appointed and destined for you to do.’

11. But since I could not see because of the [glorious intensity and dazzling] brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me and came into Damascus.

12. “And one Ananias, a devout man according to the standard of the Law, and well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there,

13. came to [see] me, and standing near, he said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And at that very moment I [recovered my sight and] looked up at him.

14. And he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will, [and to progressively understand His plan with clarity and power] and to see the Righteous One [Jesus Christ, the Messiah] and to hear a message from His [own] mouth.

15. For you will be His witness to all men testifying of what you have seen and heard.

16. Now, why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins by calling on His name [for salvation].’

(Amplified Version Holy Bible)

TOPIC: WHAT IS YOUR STORY?

Everyone has a story to tell. Some stories are exciting while others are horrible.

As a Christian, you should know our salvation story. But there are Christians who cannot tell their salvation stories.

In his defence, Paul narrated how he met the Lord Jesus Christ on his way to persecute Christians at Damascus. In his testimony, Paul explained the kind of assignment God had given him.

Also, he did not forget the place of Ananias because there is always an 'Ananias' in our salvation story who helps us get things right and show us the direction to take in our new assignment. But this testimony must be based on experiential knowledge and not head knowledge.

QUESTION: What is your conversion story?

PRAYER: O Lord God, help me to understand Your power in my salvation story and grant me the grace to share it for humanity to be drawn to You, in Jesus name. Amen.