But God…

Scripture: Acts 9:15-18 " But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name." But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name." So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized.

When was the last time you responded to the urging voice of the Holy Spirit, "But God... ? We all have at one time or another. 

Many times we focus on the man Saul, possibly a member of the Sanhedrin court, a high Roman official, in route to Damascus to persecute those who "belonged to the Way" in other words, those followers of Jesus. However God had another plan, a plan that would change his whole life. But I think the lesson for us as followers of Jesus is in Ananias. 

When was Saul converted? God put Saul in a position and readied him to receive the Holy Spirit in his life. But, notice, He told Ananias to go to him,"So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. God uses us to reach out to those around us to lead them to our Lord Jesus, to show "them" the way. 

Application: 
1) What excuses have you given for not responding to the assignments God has called you to do? It may not be too late to respond.
2) Can you imagine the wonderful reward of being the very instrument that God would use to call such a mighty man of God as Saul? Any gain will be so much greater than the loss. 

Prayer: Father, as you are passing out assignments for the day, do not pass me by. Give me the courage and strength to respond to your call, facing any danger along the way knowing that it is you that will perform any good word or deed that comes from within us. May I glorify you. In Jesus name I pray. Amen

Is Ignorance an Excuse?

Scripture:

Romans 1:19 “Since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

Lesson:

“But I did not see the sign,” was the response Joey made to me as we drove away from the highway patrol that just gave us a ticket.

Just because we did not see the speed sign, did not mean the sign was not there, nor did it excuse us from being held accountable for it? The same is true about God. Refusing to acknowledge God does not excuse us from not knowing Him nor can ignorance be claimed as an excuse for not being obedient to Him. We are still responsible to Him as our Creator and Lord?

Recently, driving, across the Smokey Mountains I saw hundreds of miles of mountains, forest, boulders, sky, clouds, and a hard thunder storm. I was reminded of the scripture, “Listen to the roar of his voice, to the rumbling that comes from his mouth…God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding.” What evidence do you see that there is God?” Paul contends that all have had God revealed to them even if they are from the most remote area in the world. Everything in the universe bears witness to God and his power.

·      He is visible: In other words man has an innate awareness of God.

·      He is understood: any wise person who sees the truth will also reflect on it and reach a conclusion about it.

·      He is from the beginning to the end: The human race began knowing God through his creations, but has throughout history, rejected Him. From the world around him, man knew that there was a God who had the wisdom to plan and the power to create.

·      He has eternal power and divine nature: God reveals his power and nature through the splendor of creation whether man acknowledges the reality or not.

I find it interesting that anyone would claim incompetent to all that God has provided that bears witness to His being and His power. It seems like self-incrimination to me. Would anyone argue there was no wind if they had just observed a tornado twist huge oak trees from their roots, rip houses off their foundations, leaving the land as though a giant machine has mowed it down? Hardly not.

Application:

1.      What would be your answer to someone who would deny there is a God?

2.      How has God revealed himself to you?

3.      Do you find it interesting that anyone would claim incompetent to all that God has provided that bears witness to His being and His power?

Prayer:

Dear Father, You have made yourself visible within us and in all our surroundings, from the air we breath to the birth of a new born infant? Help us to be able to give a ready answer at any given time as to evidence of your existence. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.