Instruments of God - 31 May 2024

The Gospels and Acts tell us about many people that God gave special gifts to and called to spread the message of salvation. Of them all, Paul must be one of the most well-known.

He was a Jew from Silesia and was educated in the best traditions of the Jewish people. As a Pharisee, he had thorough knowledge of the Old Testament and was very strict in upholding the instructions of religious laws. As a member of the tribe of Benjamin, he was also from the Jewish elite. He had a grand CV, but for what Jesus needed him to do, it was not worth much. He was so caught up in his traditions and instructions, that he started persecuting members of the early church. This story is told in the first few verses of Acts chapter eight. He tried to destroy the church; he went from house to house to drag men and women out into the street, and put them in jail.

Something drastic was needed before he was suitable for the work that God wanted him to do. The change came on the road to Damascus. When God sent Ananias to go to Paul, he did not want to go as he had heard about how Paul persecuted the church. But the Lord said to Ananias: ‘Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name …”

Paul received only one instruction from God – make my name known – and this is what he did for the rest of his life. His traditions and strict upholding of the law were forgotten. What was once very important was nothing now – totally forgotten were the “violent threats of murder against the followers of the Lord”.

It is not possible for all of us to follow in Paul’s footsteps and I don’t think I want to do what he had to do. However, we know that God has chosen each one of us to make his name known. We can all do that, maybe not as the leader of the pack, but somewhere in our own capacity. Still, if every one of us contributes just a little bit to the spreading of the gospel, the church will grow bit by bit, to make known the name of God in this world.

Prayer: We thank you, Lord, for the past month in which we heard how your church began to spread the message about salvation in Christ. Please make us bold enough to tell someone about you today. Amen