Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus, reveal Yourself to us by faith. Amen.
Text: Acts 26:12-18
“While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.'”
Devotion
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” the Lord says to Saul (Paul). But isn’t it the Church that Saul is persecuting? Yes, but here we are told again that the Lord is one with His people. Wrong them, and you wrong Jesus; do good to them, and you do good to Him. Now when Paul becomes a servant of Christ, the Lord Himself is also in and with him. What he does is the Lord’s doing. What he suffers is Christ’s suffering. What he accomplishes is to God’s glory. 1) He is chosen as a servant of the Gospel. 2) The Lord reveals Himself to him and calls him. 3) He Himself goes with him and frees him.
Every servant of the Lord is “chosen” from his mother’s womb, yes, from eternity, for this work. Each one is created and called to be a pastor in that church, a missionary in that place, a teacher in that school, to do a mother’s calling like Jochebed and Eunice, or a missionary’s wife like Priscilla. A wise master always chooses suitable candidates. Let this truth encourage, gladden, and comfort you! – “I have chosen you as a minister and a witness to Me,” the Lord says to Paul. The Apostles had seen the Lord with their own eyes and touched Him with their own hands. In this they are different from us. But in faith we too have found Him. He has revealed Himself also to us, so that we can testify of Him. Whoever cannot from his own experience testify of eternal life in God’s Son is not a true minister of the Gospel. Only those who themselves have found grace can rightly proclaim the Word of grace. Whoever does not know our Lord Jesus cannot praise His glory. The power is in the Word itself, but it must be divided rightly.
Let us proclaim it in full confidence in the Lord’s power contained in it. As a servant of God’s Word one should be certain of his calling, so that he is also certain that the Word he proclaims as the Lord’s Word is powerful and living, and accomplishes His work. He should proclaim it in faith. He should be sure that it opens the eyes of the blind so that they turn from Satan’s power to God. – And then he can go confidently to his work. The Lord shall save him from the devil’s raging wrath. “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1Jo 4:4). Even today there are ever so many raging persecutors who will become fervent confessors.
Closing Prayer
Praise to You, Lord Jesus! Your name we will praise and confess to the end of the earth. Amen.
Hymn
With sun and moon Your name shall rise
To endless ages, peaceful skies;
Countless and bright as stars above
Are those who witness Your great love.
O lend them fire of heav’nly kind,
Let them Your light still burning find!
Grant them to speak Your comfort sure,
And Your true voice with faith procure.
Grant strength and courage firm to stay,
And earthly wisdom all to slay
Whate’er against our faith may rise
And rob the soul of Paradise!
Grant them to trust in Your true Word,
Joyful to follow heavenward,
Patience in tribulation’s height
And vict’ry in the one good fight.
Grundtvig: I Dag paa apostolisk Vis L 586:3.5-7 tr. DeGarmeaux;
tune: Herr Jesu Christ, wahr Mensch (ELH 238); alternate hymn: Forth in Thy name, O Lord, I go ELH 506