The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Acts 26:17b-18, “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.” As Paul recounts the confrontation by the Lord on the road to Damascus he tells Agrippa, Bernice and Festus the work assignment given him from the Lord. He is to open the eyes of the people, turn them from darkness to light and turn them from the power of Satan to God. All people who have not come to embrace Jesus Christ in faith live in darkness. A spiritual darkness that cloaks the things of God prevents them from acknowledging who God is, what he is like, why we are here, where we are going and what the purpose of life is all about. Even the best of theologians, students of the Bible and religious leaders persist in a darkness, blinded from the things of God if they have not embraced Jesus Christ in faith. This is exactly what we see with the religious leaders of the day that Jesus castigated in Matthew 23:16. “Woe to you, blind guides…” Jesus quotes Isaiah 6:10 when he speaks of the blinding of the hearts of men who have no faith, John 12:40. Paul tells us the “god of this age” blinds the minds of unbelievers, 2 Corinthians 4:1-6. But through the gospel message, when it is received in faith this blindness is lifted. Of the gospel Paul says, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith’” Romans 1:16-17. The gospel holds the power to remove our blindness, remove us from the power of Satan, bring us forgiveness and provide us a place among those who are made holy by faith in Jesus Christ! How wonderful is this gospel message! Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you! If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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