WEDNESDAY

Acts 9:1-18

“What?” Have you ever had that reaction to something that made absolutely no sense, something so outlandish you wondered if it was a joke or if there had to be a catch? After all, people can be gullible and easily misled (that was true long before social media). And yet, sometimes God does something so unexpected that it stops us in our tracks. That is exactly what today’s Scripture records. Take a moment to revisit this remarkable story. Of all the people in Palestine at the time, the last person anyone would expect to follow Jesus was Saul—later known as Paul. Saul, who was “breathing out murderous threats” against the Lord’s disciples (verse 1). Saul, who approved of Stephen’s stoning. Saul, who carried documents authorizing the persecution of believers. And yet, this Saul has a dramatic encounter in which Jesus literally comes to him. The persecutor becomes one of the central figures in spreading the good news from Jerusalem to Rome. Previously, we reflected on how Paul had to navigate ministry among people who doubted his transformation. Today, however, we focus on God’s astonishing ability to overturn our assumptions and transform even the most unlikely lives. God sees what we do not. And sometimes, even when we expect God to act graciously, we are still surprised by how He does it. As you reflect on this story, consider the following:

• Given all that Saul had been doing up to this point, what do you make of Jesus’ question to him when he stopped Saul in his tracks on the road to Damascus?

• What do you make of the way Jesus gave Saul three days without sight to contemplate what had happened? What do you think may have been going on during this time?

• What do you make of the way that Jesus then invited Ananias to be the means by which Saul would have his sight restored and be welcomed into the community of believers? How does Saul’s response to Ananias (who may previously have been on his hit list) give you insight into what must have been happening during those three days of sightlessness?

• What must it have been like for Ananias to be given this task? Do you think he struggled with a sense of incredulity?

• What parts of this story do you identify with the most? What parts do you think you most need to pay attention to?

Take a few moments to share with God in prayer what is on your heart as you reflect on the unexpected ways God works in the lives of others, and perhaps in our own as well.