God Knows Your Potential

We first meet Saul (later known as Paul) at the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7). Then in Acts 8 we read that Saul 'Saul approved of their killing him'. Later in Acts 9, we find Saul again 'still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples.' Saul has in his hands 'arrest warrants' for which he intends to round up all Christians.

However, during his journey to Damascus, Saul is surrounded by a bright light - the glory of God. Saul encounters Jesus face-to-face. This same Saul is now given a new job - instead of persecuting Christians, Saul is to take the message of the Gospel to the Gentiles.

You see, we can never be sure of who God will call. We can never really know what God is doing, or may do in someone's life. You may not know, but God does. And He knows your potential - God knows the plans for you. After all, God knew you when you were in your mother's womb.

Saul was a proud, murderous Pharisee intent on crushing all Christians. No one could have been more unlikely to be used by God, yet Saul was chosen to deliver the Gospel message and became perhaps the greatest evangelist of all time.

God is perfectly capable of using anyone - including you.

Jesus, Our Advocate

Stephen was one of seven men selected to be the first church 'deacons.' Stephen is described as a man 'full of God's grace and power.' As Stephen shared the Gospel message, he is met with intense opposition. Stephen is falsely accused of blasphemy and brought before the Sanhedrin. During the trial, as his accusers looked at Stephen, they saw the face of an angel - the very reflection of God. (Acts 6-7).

The council was furious and gnashed their teeth. Stephen was brought outside to be stoned. Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit gazed into Heaven and saw the Glory of God.

But take note - Stephen saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Jesus was not sitting, He was standing. Jesus stood up for Stephen as his advocate.

You see, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. And if Jesus is not your advocate, if you have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then you stand alone.

For Stephen, Jesus stood as his advocate. And Jesus will do that for you too. All you need to do is believe that Jesus died for your sins and that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9).

Saved From the Mine

Last month the world watched as 33 miners, trapped over 2,000 feet below ground, were successfully rescued. The result of a collapsed mine, the 33 men were trapped for over 60 days while crews drilled a shaft wide enough to lower a metal capsule by which the men could be raised to the surface.

During the time the men were trapped, they were separated from friends, from family and their loved ones. Sin in our lives is like being trapped in that collapsed mine. Sin results in us being separated from God. And just like the miners, we cannot rescue ourselves. The miners could not dig their way out of the mine. They needed help from above. In our sinful state, we are unable to rescue ourselves. No amount of work will raise us to the surface and get us right with God. Instead we need help from above.

Our help comes In Jesus Christ. Sent by God to take the punishment for our sins, Jesus is the only way out of the collapsed mine that is our sinfulness. And just like the miners, who to be rescued need to get into the metal capsule, we need to grabbed onto Christ to be saved. For the miners, the capsule was the only way and to not climb in would mean dying in the mine. For us, Jesus is the only way and to not accept Him as Lord and Savior, means to die in our sins. To die in our sins means to spend eternity separated from God.

The capsule has arrived, Jesus has come to take the punishment for your sins. But you must hold on to Jesus. Your life depends upon it.

Repent or Perish

In Luke 13, Jesus tells us about the Tower at Siloam which fell and killed 18 people. Jesus asks the question, "do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?" Jesus then answers His question, "I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."

There are some who believe that disaster is the result of sin. Consider Job and his three friends. When disaster struck Job, his friends were certain it was due to some sin that Job had committed.

Jesus, in His response, tells us that no one is mo of a sinner than any other. We are all sinners and Jesus calls us to repent - otherwise we will perish, just like the people at Siloam. However this is not just a physical death. This is a spiritual death - complete separation from God for eternity.

We are all facing death and what we learn from the people at Siloam, is that you may not have time to repent. So you must repent now. To delay will mean to perish.

Our Redeemer Lives

The Book of Job is perhaps one of the oldest books in the Bible. Now Job, is a wealthy farmer with thousands of sheep and cattle. Job is an upright and blameless man who prays for his family continuously.

Satan however is unimpressed accusing God of blessing Job to obtain Job's worship. A contest ensues and Satan attacks Job's possessions and then Job's health. Throughout this ordeal, Job refuses to "curse God and die." Even Job's so-called "friends" accuse Job of sinning.

Eventually Job inquires of God as to why these things have happened, but God turns the table, submitting Job to a series of questions. In the end, Job realizes the answer - we must learn to trust God. His purposes are beyond our understanding. God allows human suffering for His own purposes. In all things, we must know, as Job states, that "Our redeemer lives."

God Can Use Anyone

The Book of Ruth is one of only two books in the Bible named for women (the other is Esther). Also, when you read through Jesus' genealogy, you will find Ruth mentioned along with four other women (Tamar, Rahab, Bathsheba, and Mary are the others). Women were not usually mentioned in the genealogies at that time. But this only shows how God does the unexpected and chooses the unlikely to fulfill His plans.

So, why is Ruth mentioned in Jesus' genealogy? After all, Ruth is a Moabite. Now, a Moabite is a descendant of Moab. When Lot and his family escaped the destruction of Sodom, Lot's wife turned to look back and was turned into a pillar of salt. After the destruction, there were no men around, so Lot's daughters devised a scheme. They each got their father drunk and 'lay with him.' The resulting pregnancies and births of sons resulted in Moab and Benammi. The Moabites and the Ammonites respectively. These two groups of people, the result of incest were cursed by God.

Which brings back to Ruth. Ruth is the daughter-in-law of Naomi. Naomi is becomes a widow. The Naomi's two sons die. This leaves Ruth and Orpah also widows. Orpah moves on to look for a husband while Ruth stays with Naomi saying, 'Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.'

Ruth eventually meets and marries Boaz. They have a son named Obed. Obed then becomes the father of Jesse, who is the father of David.

In Ruth we find that we can trust God to provide what we need, when we need it. In Ruth we find that God can use anyone - no matter who they are or their situation.

For Such a Time as This

When we find ourselves in difficult situations, it may be to accomplish something good. This is a lesson we learn from a young Jewish girl in the Old Testament book of Esther.

Esther, is a young Jewish girl who lives with her uncle, Mordecai, after the death of her parents. When King Ahasuerus is looking for a new queen, he commands that all beautiful virgin girls be brought to his harem. Esther is among those chosen and soon finds favor with the king. Esther is made the new queen.

Haman, the an official in the king's court, dislikes the Jews and plots to have all of them killed. Mordecai, upon hearing of the plot, contacts Esther and asks her to speak to the king. Esther, realizing that perhaps she has been placed in this situation, "for such a time as this" goes to see the king. Seeking an audience with the king can mean death if the does not grant the audience.

This time, the king listens to Esther and puts an end to the plot and orders Haman to be hanged. The Jewish holiday of Purim, celebrates this story.

Always remember, that in any situation, no matter how dire, God can use you to accomplish something good.