Daily Devotional from New Life Network

Scripture for the Day - June 10, 2020

But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7)

Would You Have Chosen Paul? (Acts 9)

Paul was on a rampage against the disciples of Jesus (known as the people of “The Way”. He was rounding them up as criminals. He stood by and watched Stephen as he was stoned to death. Paul was ruthless!

In Acts 9 Paul had a huge heart change. Jesus personally appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus.

And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. (Acts 9:3-6).

Paul was blinded by his meeting with Jesus. He didn’t eat or drink for three days. During this time Jesus spoke to a believer named Ananias. He told him to go to Damascus and pray for Paul. Ananias was very skeptical about what Jesus was asking him to do but he went ahead due to what Jesus told him.

But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. (Acts 9:15-16)

All of you know how things went from here. Paul went on to preach the Gospel with more passion than he hunted down and persecuted people of “The Way”.

Now, here are the questions we need to ask ourselves regarding this matter.

Would you and I have chosen Paul for the task Jesus chose him for, knowing his apparent resume?
Or, would we immediately disregard Paul due to all his past actions.

If you and I are honest we would all admit that we would never trust Paul with this huge responsibility. That is why it is so important for us to not judge other people. We are not God. God looks at hearts and not outward appearances. He sets up kings and pulls down kings. Some of these kings did not even know God (King Cyrus was a prime example).

Be careful about judging others. You may be judging a man or woman chosen by God.