My Servant and Witness

Scripture: Acts 26 12 “One day I was on such a mission to Damascus, armed with the authority and commission of the leading priests. 13 About noon, Your Majesty, as I was on the road, a light from heaven brighter than the sun shone down on me and my companions. 14 We all fell down, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is useless for you to fight against my will.’ 15 “ ‘Who are you, lord?’ I asked. “And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. 16 Now get to your feet! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and witness. You are to tell the world about this experience and about other times I will appear to you. 17 And I will protect you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles 18 to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.’ (Acts 26:12-18 NLT) Paul sums up his experience with the risen Christ and the commission that shaped the rest of his life in these short verses. Paul told this story again and again, to crowds and to individuals, to pagans and priests, to governors and kings, and eventually to the Roman Emperor. His passion never faded, and his purpose never wavered—to tell the story of his encounter with the risen Jesus Christ and to take the Good News to the Gentiles. The outworking of this commission involved teaching and travel, church planting and leadership development, writing letters and laying on of hands. And it all suited his person and his personality. I think the most effective people learn who they are and know what they are supposed to be doing with their lives. It seems that the most effective people work with their strengths and don’t spend all their energy trying to overcome their weaknesses. It seems that the most effective people work out of the passion in their hearts. Are you working with your strengths and living out of your passion? Prayer: Father, I want to spend the rest of my life doing the right things, not just doing things right. I want to be effective and not merely efficient. Please blow the breath of your Spirit on my soul and kindle a fire of passion for your purpose—your purpose for my life. May I be your Servant and Witness as I tell the story and the stories. Amen.