Sunday, September 22, 2013

Suddenly

Acts 9:3 KJV
And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 

The story of Saul of Tarsus reads like a representation of what happens to all Christians. 

His conversion to Christ is sudden and unexpected. 
It takes everyone around him by surprise. Yea, it takes him by surprise. 

On further reflection he can see that there has been some goading toward Christ for some time
Though no one else likely saw it and he secretly kicked against it, the Lord had been dealing with him since the death of Stephen. His conversion was simply the supernatural response to the goading of the Holy Spirit if God. 

The greater part of the story happens after his conversion. 
The conversion itself happens surprisingly quickly in the chapter. The rest of the chapter, indeed, the rest of the book of Acts, chronicles the working of the Lord after conversion. 

So it is in our lives:

  • We may not recognize the ministry of the Spirit toward salvation until well after we are saved
  • Our salvation experience is sudden and very often unexpected. It was the last thing we thought would happen on that day
  • The ministry of God happens for the rest of our lives as He leads us, teaches us, corrects us and uses us for His service until we go home to heaven. 

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