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Acts 9:3-4

As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

Bang! Just like that! A light from heaven and Saul fell to the ground.

Saul was intent on destroying the church, “breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples.” Dragging men and women off to prison, he made house calls on Christians. He approvingly supervised the stoning of Stephen. And Saul was on his way to Damascus to level some more damage when God stopped him in his tracks. You know the rest of the story. Saul trusted in Christ, God changed his name to Paul, and the last one of the Apostles took the message of Jesus throughout the world. And . . . he wrote thirteen of the twenty-seven books in the New Testament!

We call a change like Paul’s a “Damascus Road conversion.” A person is blatantly opposed to everything Christian. They have nothing to do with Jesus. They breathe hatred to all who follow Christ. Then suddenly God gets their attention and they become a follower of Jesus.

Whom do you know who is blatantly opposed to Christianity? Think of a person that needs a “Damascus Road” experience. Our job is not to hate or damn them. Jesus said that our job is to love and pray for them (Matthew 5:44). Write the person’s name down. Put them on your prayer list. I know what you’re saying, “This person will never come to Christ!” That’s the same thing people said about Paul.

Father, help me obey the command of Jesus to love my enemies and pray for them. I do that right now. I ask that You bring _____________________ to Yourself. Cause ______________________ to trust in You. Give _______________________ a Damascus Road experience. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Read through the Bible this year:

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Today on The Journey Broadcast:

 

Fearing God – Part 2