SATURDAY - 28TH OCTOBER, 2023
MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola ADEJUMO
TURNED AROUND AND ABOUT - What Is Purpose Series 005?
Acts 9:3, KJV
"And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:"
I said yesterday that God was the God of encounters. Saul collects letters and leaves for Damascus. He is just not going there. He has an intent - that he might bring those of the Way bound to Jerusalem. Imagine what a man is using his life to serve in zeal! You can be doing wrong and in all conscience think it is right. You'll need an encounter to prove to you you're wrong.
All things seem set in order for Saul. He even has escorts and men in terror to help secure the arrest of those of the Way. More importantly, he is not acting on his own. He has the backing of fathers and those that matter. Who will therefore challenge him since the law has even thrown his weight at his back?
However, God is the God of encounters. He is a God of the new beginning and He can start you over. He can handpick a man who has his own plan outlined before him in pride and redirect him into what he should use his life to serve in the time he has to live on earth. God can change the plan of a man. He can send him on a new errand - a new mission. On entering Damascus, God stages a drama to capture Saul. A bright light shines from heaven round him. Saul is knocked off from his exalted position of pride against God and he asks, "who are you, Lord?" In no time, he got a response. "I am Jesus whom you're persecuting. It's hard for you to kick against the pricks. Enter into the city and it'll be told you what you shall do".
This is the God of encounters. He turns a man round about. I have known Him and it is He I serve. It doesn't even matter the life such fellow has lived till then. God knows the means to take to harvest him for himself. He even knows where and when and He is coming for you too. As for Saul, it is, "as he nears Damascus..." Saul came for one thing but he met another. There will be change of plans this morning. I meant attending Obafemi Awolowo University but God intended Tai Solarin University of Education. This is how the content of the letter Paul bears never got implemented. That's how Paul leaves the persecuting life. This is how the bitter ends and the better kick starts in his life. A testimony that God in a twinkle can change the direction of a man.
God is the God of encounters. Once He happens to you, you'll let go of what you have at hand to run a new course. It'll be so sudden that at remembrance, you'll wonder at the speed of events. But all will be because God has need of you. Like He testifies of Saul to Ananias. "He's a chosen vessel in my hands" [Acts 9:15-16]. That singular utterance reveals God's interest in Saul. That's why God came for him. A fellow may be a cultist, prostitute or even Jacob in cunningness but if he or she is a chosen vessel in God's hands, God will one day meet him or her and collect such for Himself. It doesn't matter what he has done or does; where he is, how privileged or underprivileged he is. Once a man has the call on him, he's marked of God for use even if he's yet not born again. God's eyes and flashlight is just spotted on him till He comes for such. Such man is therefore not different from that tied colt that prophecy is on but whose time is not until Jesus sends for it. Until then, any Saul can continue in his old life until the Lord Who gives the Word issues his warrant of arrest. God's after you and God's eyes will always go with such carrier of the call because the intent of God is to harvest him for use someday. God will see him through his hard times and gives him uncommon deliverances where he thought less. I have experienced uncommon acceleration and such favour because God has this interest in me. Why did you think Saul has an accelerated progress of being a Pharisee and lawyer (Acts 22:3)? In the natural, that's God declaring Himself to him by giving him status and acceptability that not all those who have gone before have. So, when the time comes, God will therefore seek him out by first seeking to divorce him from that life and plan that doesn't fulfill His glory. God has a plan for that. For Saul, God awaits him as he prepares for what he might have themed, "Damascus Invasion: The Big Visit". But he never saw it. That's why you should never compare yourself with another. A Saul might misbehave until he's harvested. He might receive mercy and that's because of the call on him. The call on you can preserve you until you're confronted by that call to come. The call on that colt Jesus rode preserved it so much more that no man found it attractive enough to mount (Mark 11:2). Everyone spared it until it comes whose right it is. Note! Everything God does in your present is a revelation of your future or what you're saved to become. May the God of encounter meet you. May you release and let go of what you're cherishingly holding unto. May a new life and direction be offered you where you've been deceived to think you're right or have been living right. I see a turn around, a turn about and a quick parabola. You're for purpose!
PRAYER: Lord, turn hardened criminals around. Pray for those you want God to save. Mention their names. Father, let your interest in me be declared.
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Jeremiah 51:54-52:34; Titus 3:1-15; Psalm 100:1-5; Proverbs 26:18-19
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