“Only he who can see the invisible can do the impossible. “  Frank Gaines

Once again God had chosen an unlikely man to work for him.  No one would have chosen Saul of Tarsus as the one to champion the causes and message of Jesus Christ.  After all, Saul didn’t even believe his claims.

At the time God chose to call him into ministry, Saul was occupied full-time persecuting the Christians.  He was there giving his approval when the angry mob decided to kill Stephen for preaching Christ.  He had gone to the proper authorities to get legal documents giving him permission to torment followers of Jesus in Damascus.  Not only was siding with Christ unthinkable to Saul, he wanted to wipe Christ and his followers out.

That’s when God tapped on his shoulder.

I am not sure if we will ever understand why God chose him.  However, we can learn a great deal about how God changed Saul to Paul.  God transformed him from someone who despised the Lord to someone who could be trusted with this incredible responsibility.  If we want to be effective ambassadors for the Lord, our journey will be similar to Paul’s in many ways.

The Conversion

In what he thought to be a righteous rage, Saul was headed toward Damascus (Acts 9).  He had received word that the followers of Christ were proselytizing and he had taken it upon himself to point out the error of their ways.  He was going to bring an end to their zealous efforts by being overly zealous himself.

That’s when his theology changed.  He met Jesus.  He was not looking for him.  He was convinced that Jesus was dead.  All that talk about him being raised from the dead was nonsense – superstition at best, a calculated hoax at worst.

He wasn’t looking for Jesus, but Jesus was looking for him.  He didn’t recognize his need for a savior, but the Savior of the world wanted Saul.

A bright light shone.  He fell to the ground and had a short conversation with the Lord.  This dialogue changed the course of his life.  Everything he had scheduled for his future was now futile.

Paul was blind for three days after this rendezvous, so his companions led him to Damascus.  Everything he had known and lived for was now meaningless.  He had met the Messiah, and he was a new man.  He joined the cause.

                  Changing Saul into Paul

He was Saul before he met Christ and shortly after his name became Paul.  His name change marked a change in direction, calling, and purpose.

The only cause Saul had ever known was to defend tradition, but now God was calling him to do thw things: to know God and to make God known.

On the road to Damascus Saul met Jesus.  Before his life was over, he would tell his story and preach the gospel through letters and in person to more people than anyone before or since.  However, he did not immediately go from the Damascus road experience to being an expert preacher.  He began a lifelong journey of knowing him.

Ananias’ Message

Paul was God’s chosen messenger to the world, but Ananias was God’s messenger to Paul.  After the Lord convinced Ananias that Paul was waiting on him, he headed over to where the future apostle was staying.  His first job was to restore his sight.  As things like scales fell off his natural eyes, some added instruction from Ananias changed the way Paul saw God and approached him spiritually.

Ananias said, “The God of our fathers has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth.  You will be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard" (Acts 22:14-15).  These two sentences affected the way Paul built his relationship with God.  Let me explain.

                  “The God of Our Fathers Has Chosen You”

The first thing Paul needed to understand was that God chose him.  This is something all Christians need to understand.  Your parents did not choose you to be a Christian, God did.  You are not a Christian because that is all you have ever known, because you go to a youth group, or because you attend a Christian school.  God chose you.  While you were still in womb, God handpicked you.  Before you breathed your first breath, he decided he wanted you.

Why?

To start a revolution?  Well, that may be a result of your life, but that is not the main reason he chose you.

Did he choose you to bring revival to your church or school?  Again, you may, but that is not what he chose you for.

He chose you so that you could know him.  The way you build a relationship with him is the same way Saul did.  Ananias told Saul God chose him to do three things:  know his will, see the Righteous One, and hear words from his mouth.

                  “Know His Will”

If one of your heroes knocked on your door and asked you for a few minutes, you would definitely give it to him or her.  Maybe you are an athlete and one of the all-time best at your sport wanted to take a few minutes to share some things with you.  Would you hesitate?  We would never think about saying no to our heroes, yet many people ignore God.

Every day he knocks on your door and asks you for some time.  Even though you can’t see him he wants to sit down with you and talk to you about his will.  He will whisper in your ear what he is thinking, what he is planning.  He will share strategies for your school.  God will give you an outline for your life.

Think about it.  God will take time to let you know his will – for your future, your church, anything and everything.

The problem is many people refuse to take time to listen.

                  “See the Righteous One”

When you look into the face of the world, what do you see?  Hatred, anger, rage?  You see violence in schools, immorality in the streets, and petty images in the media.  Many heroes are not worth respecting and many goals are not worth achieving.  If you spend all of your time looking at the world, you will be demoralized, hopeless and frustrated.

God has chosen you to see the Righteous One.  If you take time to sit down and look at the Lord, what will you see?  You will gaze into the face of perfection.  He is the exact opposite of what you see in the world.

When you spend hours daily looking at hate, you need to balance it with love.  When looking into the eyes of Christ, you will see love – the perfect kind of love that chases away your doubts, fears, and sins.

You will see joy – unadulterated delight.

You will see peace – a peace that surpasses all understanding and goes beyond all circumstances.

Patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control – these are what you will find when you look into the character of Christ.

                  “Hear Words From His Mouth”

God wants to speak directly to you.  Although you may sit under a gifted leader and have great teachers in your church, it is more exciting when you hear wisdom from God himself.  He chose you to be a hearer of his words.  He handpicked you to receive his wisdom, direction, and insights so that you can be shaped and molded by them.

Then you will be his witness to everyone of what you have seen and heard.

After you know his will, see him, and hear what he has to say, you will be an effective witness.  Many Christians try to be an effective witness, but they never take time to listen to him and see him.

The most effective ambassadors will be the ones who carve out time to spend in solitude with God.  Only the ones who embrace the opportunities to know him this intimately will change the world.

What Paul Did

God handpicked Paul to preach.  He was appointed an apostle and a herald, yet it was not an instant change.  Ananias came and shared the plan that would change him, yet it was up to Paul to follow through with the plan.  God took the initiative, but Paul had to be willing to take the time.

I can’t tell you what God’s plan for you is in regard to impacting the world, but I can tell you he wants you to know his will, see him, and hear him.  If you do, you will be effective at whatever he calls you to do.  If you say no, you will never reach your potential.

It was the key for Paul, and it will be the key for you also.

Reality Check

·       Do you believe “God chose you” to have a radical relationship with him?  Are you convinced that he singled you out simply so that he could reveal himself to you?  How will this affect the way that you approach your devotional life?

·       Romans 12:2 says that you can “test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing, and perfect will.”  How does it make you feel to know he wants you “to know his will”?

·       For what specific areas would you like to understand his will?

·       If you take time to pray, you can see his face and sense his presence.  Have you ever felt like you connected with God in this way?  In your quiet times do you feel like you have been able to get a glimpse of his goodness and love?

God, thank you for choosing me.  You do speak to me and want me to hear your voice.  Help me to recognize you when you are trying to teach, lead, or direct me.  I desperately want to know you and your will.  I will sit and listen, and when you speak I will respond.  I love you and thank you that you love me.  In the great name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

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