There’s a certain mystery in the fact that Jesus gave His life so that we could have life. Why? We aren’t deserving in the least….and yet we expect to have life in the fullest. We are greedy, defiant, rebellious, impulsive, questioning, demanding and even still have the audacity to find ourselves unsatisfied.
In the book of Acts is written a story of a man that first was a persecutor of Christians and then a preacher to Christians. God swiftly transformed this man’s passions from tearing people down to building them up in Christ. This incredible story belongs to a man named Paul, formerly known as Saul. I am in constant amazement of the drive Paul has for sharing the good news to everyone he meets. He speaks fearlessly, full of courage – bold. But before he was transformed, his life was full of defiance, greed, rebellion, etc. Yet God chose to use that fire inside him for something greater!
And I’m jealous of his courageous, enduring spirit.
Jesus saved this man’s life on a dirt road to Damascus…a road well traveled and known by the people. But this place, common as it seemed, was well-prepared for the very moment of meeting Saul in the condition his heart was in – hatred bubbling at the brim. He was breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples (Acts 9:1), yet God used Saul’s unrelenting drive for good. On this road, Jesus met Saul with a great light from Heaven that flashed around him, causing Saul to fall to the ground. Talk about POWER! And Jesus speaks to Saul, asking him why, oh why do you persecute me? (Acts 9:4).And of course, Saul is confused – who wouldn’t be? First, flashes of light so powerful they knocked him to the ground, blinded by the same light, and now a voice speaking to him asking him about persecution….Saul’s confusion is totally justified. But secretly, in my own sinful judgment, I think he deserves it. I keep reading….And then it hits me, whether this man’s name is Saul or Paul, he is still the same man – all except his heart which God just transformed from fierce hatred to fierce love for His children!
That’s cool – so cool I feel remorse for my previous thought of Saul deserving what he got…
And my thoughts float to the verse Ezekiel 36:26-27 – “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” Well that’s Paul to a T! Not only does God keep His promises, he gives us proof of those promises. Paul goes on to preach the good news wherever God calls him to go; Fearless with God at his side. And it makes me think: Anywhere I go, YOU are, God. You are absolutely everywhere…so awesome.
There is another man within the Bible that I find great respect for – King Melchizedek. He is not spoken of much or known well, but there are a few very noticeable traits of this man that I cannot resist sharing. First, his name means “king of righteousness,” so right off the bat, we expect great things of him, right? Second, let’s look at his leadership qualities. Now, there are many men in the Bible that were exceptional leaders, but Melchizedek’s leadership was grounded solely in the fact that his heart was tuned to God, not men. He worshipped and served God with all his heart – which allowed him to reign over Salem with peace. That is a RARE trait of rulers in the Bible. Which solidifies our presumption to his names meaning? If his name means “king of righteousness” then he better be a pretty awesome leader! And he was, for the brief time he ruled. But what made him such a great ruler? You look at Paul and then you look at Melchizedek – both very different men, but incredibly useful in furthering God’s Kingdom!
One was met on a simple dirt road and transformed for God’s glory, the other raised up to bring peace over the nation of Salem….each serving our God with steadfast, hungry hearts.
My heart stirs with desire to be like these men…with the ache to be more in Christ than I am currently…so hungry to serve our Father in ways I never have before – to experience Him like never before! Whether it be on a dirt road, or in a palace made for a king, my heart aches to be near to the one who created me. As each day brings me closer to launching on this journey to 11 countries in 11 months, I am beginning to realize that God has incredible things planned for my life…not just with these 11 months overseas, but now and afterwards too! And probably when I least expect it…like Paul on the road to Damascus – he never saw it coming! How cool! God’s Word is full of beautiful promises, gifts, and lessons that are unbreakable and always loving, meant to grow us into His likeness. WOW!
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.” Isaiah 55:8
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
What beautiful promises! His plans far outweigh any plans I have for myself – His are ALWAYS better because they are meant to give me hope and a future filled with prosperity. I would take that design for my life any day over my own design! God’s plan is guaranteed, whereas mine will NEVER have a guarantee…there is no ground for assurance in my own plans – they will always fail when I lean on my own strength.
Period.
So take comfort in the fact that God aches to love us, to provide for us, to give us joy and laughter, to help us grow closer to Him – He will never leave us! Even when we run from Him, He will ALWAYS be next to us. That is a promise written in His Word, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will NEVER leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6.
The gift of being God’s children is that He wants the BEST for us! He wanted the best for Saul/Paul, He wanted the best for the people of Salem – so He gave them King Melchizedek, and He wants the best for each of us! Never forget that our God is a God of unfailing, unconditional, never-ending love. A love we will never truly grasp, but are desperate to experience and share!
This is my prayer for each of you as we continue to seek our Heavenly Fathers’ face:
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
~Ephesians 31:17-19
