Daily Devotions – Amazing Grace that Saved a Wretch Like Me

Daily Devotions – Amazing Grace that Saved a Wretch Like Me

Photo by Volodymyr Hryshchenko on Unsplash

 

Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:

 

Acts 9:1-19 (NIV)
Saul’s Conversion
9 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind and did not eat or drink anything. 10 In Damascus, there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. 11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision, he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” 13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” 17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.

 

How did the Lord first get your attention?
Was it subtle or dramatic?

 

Amazing Grace that saved a wretch like me. I have been blessed to know You my entire life. But even growing up in the church didn’t protect me from slipping away from You as I became absorbed in my career, my family and in myself. Thank You for making me feel increasingly uncomfortable, empty and finding myself lost in overwhelming situations where I finally resubmitted my life and everything in it to Your control. At that time You gave me an unquenchable thirst for You and Your Spirit helped me to grow closer to You. There is nothing that compares to walking in a relationship with You, knowing Your presence, Your guidance, Your strength and Your promise that You will take me into glory. I am thankful that You loved me enough to help me come back to You. When I read about Saul’s conversion it gives me hope that You can change the most unexpected people. Many people do not know You, some do but have slipped away, and many others are rejecting You altogether. No matter where they are in that spiritual journey now or what they have done, You love them with Your Amazing Grace. I pray that You get their attention so that they too can enjoy a loving relationship of forgiveness and grace with You. Amen