The Gospel in Motion: God Stepped In
Contributed by David Buschart

“… he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name …” —Acts 9:15

When God steps into a life He does so in His ways and for His purposes. How might the story of Saul in Acts 9 help us to have a more complete understanding of His ways and a clearer vision of His purposes?

By temperament, I am the kind of person who likes moderation. I’m not a fan of extremes. And when change occurs I prefer it to be gradual and planned—preferably planned by me. I don’t like abrupt change, particularly when it is out of the blue. I don’t like feeling “out of control.” In the scheme of things (not least in a devotional reflection) my temperament and preferences aren’t all that important … except when they lead me to think and expect God to work accordingly.

As reported in Acts 9, God can and sometimes does work in ways completely out of sync with my inclinations and preferences. The change we witness in Saul is nothing short of extreme. Nothing less than a 180-degree turn. In a matter of a few days, he is changed from an aggressive leader who persecutes Christ-followers to a friend, a brother, of Christ-followers who openly proclaims Jesus in synagogues (v. 20). And this change occurs not because of anything that Saul has done or is attempting to do but in complete contradiction to Saul’s efforts. It occurs suddenly, contrary to Saul’s purposes, and in ways that are completely beyond his control. Does God always work in this way? No. But can he and sometimes does He? Yes, indeed. And my vision, our vision, of how God can and sometimes will work needs to include the extreme, the sudden, the by-us-uncontrolled.

Second, what are God’s purposes in changing individual lives? It is not uncommon today for both evangelistic appeals and discipleship ministries to focus not on God but on us. We invite people to reach out to God so that they might find meaning and purpose. We encourage them to invite Jesus in so that they will experience peace and fulfillment. If we look closely, these storylines focus on us.

But the story of Saul becoming “Paul” is focused on God. Fundamentally, it is a God-centered story. The account of God’s intervention into Saul’s life begins with His question, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” (v. 4). (Notice, by the way, God’s direct and personal address, by name.) God continues with “you will be told what you are to do” (v. 6). When God reassures and instructs Ananias in his shepherding of Saul, He tells him that Saul is “an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel” (v. 15) “Filled by God Himself, with the Holy Spirit” (v. 17), Saul “immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying ‘He is the Son of God.’” (v. 20; also see vv. 22, 27, 28)

Did God care about Saul as a person, and does God care about us? Oh, yes. He loved Saul (He redeemed him rather than punishing or destroying him) and He loves us. He loves us beyond our comprehension. Luke, the author of the book of Acts, tells us that the Jesus whom Saul persecuted and then served came into the world “to seek and save those who are lost” (Luke 19:10). But when God steps in, when God redeems a person, in addition to working in and for the life of that individual He also and ultimately is carrying out His sovereign, comprehensive plan for eternal redemption. Thanks be to God for the gift of being taken up into the story of God.

Consider—

╬ What are my assumptions about the way that God should or does work in my life? In the lives of other people, both those who follow Christ and those who do not?

╬ In what ways might the story of God-at-work in Acts 9 inform the way I think about God’s redemptive work in the lives of individual people?

╬ Our Father, thank you for not limiting your ways and purposes of working to the ways and purposes of my thoughts. By your Holy Spirt, help me to see and follow You in Your work in the world. In Jesus’s name, Amen.