by Nick Miller

In Acts 26, Paul is on trial for preaching and teaching the truth about Jesus. His trial has become so intense that it required the attention of King Agrippa, king of Judea at that time. Paul is asked to state his case, in which he begins by sharing his conversion testimony. The moment where Jesus shone a light around him and his companions, and promised a new story for his life.

Hear his words as Paul describes what Jesus said to him in Acts 26:16-18:

“Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.“

I was always amazed by Paul’s incredible conversion story. He received such a clear vision from God, an overwhelming directive from Jesus! However, in reading this a few days ago, I discovered something entirely new to me! The important part of this conversion story doesn’t just end with the amazing “God moment,” but rather with the total obedience to this vision.

We all have received direction, now we need to follow it with our whole heart!

Listen to what Paul says immediately after sharing this “Jesus moment” with all those in attendance:

“So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.” – Acts 26:19-23

The truth is that each and every one of us are called to do and see extraordinary things in our life. I want to encourage you today and this week to ask Christ to reaffirm His vision over your life, to show you clearly what your place is within the body of Christ. But your challenge doesn’t end there! Pray for the strength and grace to follow that call obediently!

Paul was faithful to the call in the great and easy moments, as well as the difficult and trying seasons. Paul would become one of the most powerful and influential individuals that ever existed on this planet.

One thing I have found from reading these words is that when we are obedient to Christ’s calling, our life begins to change the world around us! Imagine a community that is obedient to the vision that they have received from Jesus… it would shake the world!

photo: unsplash.com