Bible Reading Plan | Devotion for the week of April 16, 2023

WEEKLY READING: REVELATION 21:1–27, REVELATION 22:1–21, ACTS 8:2–40, ACTS 9:1–43, ACTS 10:1–48, ACTS 11:1–12:24, ACTS 13:1–52

This week Stephen Minister Art Chesna shares his reflections on the conversion of the Apostle Paul. Check out Art’s insights and encouragements, drawn from the Book of Acts, Chapter 9.

This scripture details the events leading to the Apostle Paul’s conversion from chief prosecutor of the early church to Christ’s top recruiter. Paul (earlier named Saul) was a dedicated enforcer of the strict laws of the Jewish faith, a Pharisee among Pharisees. I would guess he would be like a leader in the volatile Nazi SS group of World War II Germany, hunting down anyone even suspected of being Jewish. God knew this man, Paul, and would actively pursue him to help catalyze the spread of the Gospel around the world. But how to convince the overly zealous Paul to switch sides after years of being a staunch opponent of this new Christian faith? Drastic measures were needed, something you couldn’t control yourself, something extraordinary that could never be called a coincidence. Ultimately, our infinitely wise God opted for direct confrontation with this confrontational man and allowed him to experience complete disorientation through three days of blindness!

Needless to say, it worked! Now, all Paul had to do, was accept Christ as Lord and prove to the Apostles that he was not acting as a double agent. So, Paul started preaching that Jesus is the Christ (God’s chosen King). The Jewish authorities recognized this renegade message and tried to kill him. Jesus’ followers saw this, accepted Paul, took him into their homes and protected him.

We are not usually fortunate enough to have God speak to us directly as in Paul’s case, but I’m certain that He does speak to us through what we might call signs. These are positive and sometimes lifesaving events we experience that on the surface might be explained by coincidence. But under closer examination, the odds of what we have experienced—events happening this way—just don’t make sense. What makes more sense is that God has us in His plans. We just need to open our eyes and be attentive to see His work around us, and then choose to follow Him for whatever good purpose He is leading us to next.

Do you have questions about this week’s Bible reading? WCC would love to help! Rather than relying on the first thing you find on the internet, email biblequestions@warsaw.cc. Someone will get back to you on that nagging question, provide you with some clarity or at least point you in the right direction for further study.