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I Kings 11:1-12:19; Acts 9:1-25; Psalm 131:1-3; Proverbs 17:4-5
“Then Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. So they took him by the hand and led him to Damascus. He was unable to see for three days, and did not eat or drink. Now in Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision, ‘Ananias!’ ‘Here I am, Lord!’ he said. ‘Get up and go to the street called Straight,’ the Lord said to him, ‘to the house of Judas, and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, since he is praying there.” (Acts 9:8-11)
“‘Lord,’ Ananias answered, ‘I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.’ But the Lord said to him, ‘Go! For this man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before Gentiles, kings, and the sons of Israel.'” (9:13-15)
We Christians are taking the day to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Why? What is so special about Jesus? I’ll tell you, Jesus is so incredible because He is hope for the hopeless and a compass for those who are lost.
When I read the scriptures concerning Saul I think to myself, “WOW, that’s one hard brother!” I mean he felt like he was doing God a favor persecuting Christians. At one time I wouldn’t have given big odds for a person like Saul becoming born again. Admit it, folks like that can be intimidating. He was a religious intellectual, and hopeless.
First off, our tendency is to think that someone who has attacked others would not be on top of God’s list of people with potential. “Surely God is going to strike him dead for what’s he’s done!” Secondly, some people seem so set in their ways and beliefs that we wonder if God has the power to break through. C’mon, really. God is God and He is bad to the bone. If He puts someone on the street called Straight consider it a done deal!
Seriously though, everyone has potential. Hard cases are God’s specialty.
PRAYER:
Lord, help me to see people through Your eyes. Help me to remember that as long as a person is breathing there is always hope. I ask You for encouragement to continue to pray for the “hard cases.” In the name of Jesus, Amen.
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