June 4, 2019
Acts 26:19-23 The Passion Translation (TPT)
Jesus Messiah is a life-changer. He brings new life to open hearts and calls us to follow him into abundant living. When we are willing to surrender our stubborn wills and mindsets, he brings transformation to our attitudes, priorities, choices, etc. Getting our attention is part of God’s work of salvation. I imagine sometimes getting our attention is quite a task.
Jesus Messiah is the life-changer for Saul (Apostle Paul) who met Jesus on the Road to Damascus. Saul was going to persecute Christians, but Jesus got his attention and sent him in a new direction. From that day on, Saul would become Paul; a man with a life-changing story. God sent him to the Gentile or non-Jewish nations to be a witness to the resurrection of Christ. God’s directive and Paul’s obedience provided salvation for me and you.
In our passage today, Paul is presenting his case in court; Paul has been put in prison for his witness of the Living Christ. Our take away today comes as a reminder. We must receive the love and forgiveness of God through Jesus and demonstrate our connection to Christ with our changed lives. Behold old sinful ways of living are to pass away and we are to live each day in the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
Acts 26:19-23
19 “So you see, King Agrippa, I have not been disobedient to what was revealed to me from heaven. 20 For it was in Damascus that I first declared the truth. And then I went to Jerusalem and throughout our nation, and even to other nations, telling people everywhere that they must repent and turn to God and demonstrate it with a changed life. 21 That’s why the Jews seized me when I was in the temple and tried to murder me.
22 “But in spite of all this, I have experienced the supernatural help of God up to this very moment. So I’m standing here saying the same thing that I’ve shared with everyone, from the least to the greatest. For I teach nothing but what 23 Moses and the prophets have said was destined to happen: that our Messiah had to suffer and die and be the first to rise from the dead, to release the bright light of truth both to our people and to the non-Jewish nations.”
Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving me new life and for bringing ongoing and holy changes to my soul. In Jesus’ name. Amen.