Tuesday Devo
Scripture:
Acts 9:3-6
3 As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” 5 “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! 6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
3 As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” 5 “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! 6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
Commentary:
9:3 Damascus was 135 miles (217 km) northeast of Jerusalem, a six-day journey by foot. Settled as early as the second millennium b.c., Damascus was an oasis on the border of the Arabian desert and on the main route from Mesopotamia to Egypt. The Nabatean king Aretas IV maintained an ethnarch (i.e., governor) in Damascus (2 Cor. 11:32). Although the modern city of Damascus stands atop the ancient remains, one can still see the “street called Straight” (Acts 9:11) running east to west with its East Gate and monumental arch. Also visible are the ancient theater and the concentric courts of its temple to Jupiter (now replaced by a mosque). Jewish presence in Damascus (assumed by the mention of synagogues in vv. 2, 20) is confirmed in Josephus’s record that many thousands of Jewish people were killed in Damascus during the time of the First Jewish Revolt (a.d. 66–73; see Jewish War 2.559–561). For the brilliance of the light, see Acts 22:6 and 26:13, where it is described as exceeding the midday sun.
9:4 Jesus’ reference to Saul’s “persecuting me” shows his close identity with his followers: to persecute Christians was to persecute Christ.
9:5 “Who are you, Lord?” Though Paul was ultimately blinded by the bright light (cf. vv. 3, 8–9), he indicates elsewhere that he actually saw the risen Christ on this occasion (see 1 Cor. 9:1; 15:8; Gal. 1:16; cf. Acts 9:27). The scene is significant not only because of Saul’s conversion but also because it shows that he would have known of the resurrection from direct experience of Jesus and thus could come to appreciate why this was a key part of the Christian message (see 1 Corinthians 15).
9:4 Jesus’ reference to Saul’s “persecuting me” shows his close identity with his followers: to persecute Christians was to persecute Christ.
9:5 “Who are you, Lord?” Though Paul was ultimately blinded by the bright light (cf. vv. 3, 8–9), he indicates elsewhere that he actually saw the risen Christ on this occasion (see 1 Cor. 9:1; 15:8; Gal. 1:16; cf. Acts 9:27). The scene is significant not only because of Saul’s conversion but also because it shows that he would have known of the resurrection from direct experience of Jesus and thus could come to appreciate why this was a key part of the Christian message (see 1 Corinthians 15).
Questions:
- Saul falls on his face when he sees Jesus. He was blinded by the light of God’s glory. Saul is reduced to powerlessness and helplessness before the Lord. We have no idea just how holy, glorious and powerful God is. Clayton talked about the sun, even though it’s millions of miles away, will do permanent damage to our eyes if we look at it for even a few seconds. He also told the story of seeing the tornado going through a wind farm, causing each giant windmill to bow and then get ripped from the ground. God created these things. And we think we’re going to stand in the creator’s presence like it’s no big deal? We need a reality check! How humbling is it to think of the glory and power of God? What are the dangers of treating God’s presence casually?
- Any time we are in God's presence, our flesh will respond. It doesn't have a choice. In the presence of God we are humbled and we become more aware of our smallness and God's holiness. We become overwhelmed by the love and grace He chooses to show us. It completely changes our perspective in that moment of our lives and "problems." When was the last time you took time to get alone and be in God's presence? How can you make this a regular part of your life?
Prayer Topics:
- That you would never take God or His presence casually.
- That you would spend time in His presence daily.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
6. Is the Bible God’s Word? Jesus proved He is God by rising from the dead and said the Old Testament was God’s Word and gave authority to the Apostles to write the words of the New Testament, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, so that all the words of the Bible are God’s Word.
(Matthew 5:18; Luke 24:27, 44; John 14:25-26, 15:27, 16:12-13, 17:20; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 3:5; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21)
(Matthew 5:18; Luke 24:27, 44; John 14:25-26, 15:27, 16:12-13, 17:20; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 3:5; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21)
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