But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. (Acts 9:15)
Can we be honest? We are often like Ananias in verse 13. Or the people in the synagogues in verse 21. Or the disciples in verse 26. We look at a person in light of his or her past rather than their potential in Christ. We quietly watch with reservation rather than receiving them with open arms. We will look at them as "those people" rather than acknowledge them as our people. When we do that, we cheapen the grace of God. We question whether God can, when He already has. That is exactly what God was saying to Ananias. The past was forgiven in the eyes of God. He had been chosen by God to be the catalyst of the Gospel to the Gentiles. As we observe this testimony of a madman, we must ask ourselves this question, "Can God really save the vilest of sinners?" Or as Paul would tell Timothy, "the chief of sinners." If we say yes, then it must never surprise us when He does. Paul went from one of the most vicious persecutor of the New Testament church to one of its most passionate promotors. We must never underestimate the saving grace of Jesus Christ. After all, He saved us and we were the vilest of sinners since there is no such a thing as a better sinner or worst sinner. When vile sinners come to the grace of Jesus in their lives, we must be ready to receive them with open arms. Just as Jesus did with you.
God Saves the Vilest Sinner
Read Acts 9
But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. (Acts 9:15)
Can we be honest? We are often like Ananias in verse 13. Or the people in the synagogues in verse 21. Or the disciples in verse 26. We look at a person in light of his or her past rather than their potential in Christ. We quietly watch with reservation rather than receiving them with open arms. We will look at them as "those people" rather than acknowledge them as our people. When we do that, we cheapen the grace of God. We question whether God can, when He already has. That is exactly what God was saying to Ananias. The past was forgiven in the eyes of God. He had been chosen by God to be the catalyst of the Gospel to the Gentiles. As we observe this testimony of a madman, we must ask ourselves this question, "Can God really save the vilest of sinners?" Or as Paul would tell Timothy, "the chief of sinners." If we say yes, then it must never surprise us when He does. Paul went from one of the most vicious persecutor of the New Testament church to one of its most passionate promotors. We must never underestimate the saving grace of Jesus Christ. After all, He saved us and we were the vilest of sinners since there is no such a thing as a better sinner or worst sinner. When vile sinners come to the grace of Jesus in their lives, we must be ready to receive them with open arms. Just as Jesus did with you.
That's grace.