THURSDAY - JULY 9

Read. Acts 9:17-22
17 Ananias went to the house. He placed his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord sent me—Jesus, who appeared to you on the way as you were coming here. He sent me so that you could see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Instantly, flakes fell from Saul’s eyes and he could see again. He got up and was baptized. 19 After eating, he regained his strength.

He stayed with the disciples in Damascus for several days. 20 Right away, he began to preach about Jesus in the synagogues. “He is God’s Son,” he declared.

21 Everyone who heard him was baffled. They questioned each other, “Isn’t he the one who was wreaking havoc among those in Jerusalem who called on this name? Hadn’t he come here to take those same people as prisoners to the chief priests?”
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22 But Saul grew stronger and stronger. He confused the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.

Reflect. Saul, who will later be known as Paul, is a changed man through the grace and love of Jesus Christ. Prior to this time, he had spent his life defending the faith he knew and trying to clean up the area by arresting Jesus followers. Now, he has had an encounter with the resurrected Jesus, and everything is changed. We learn that Ananias welcomed Saul into the faith through baptism and helped him during these early days. In Acts, it appears that Saul remains in Damascus for only a short time, but according to Saul/Paul’s own writing in Galatians 1:18, this time lasted for three years. (Three years is what John tells us was the length of Jesus’ own ministry.)

• There were a lot of Jews living in Damascus and, therefore, there would have been many synagogues as well. Saul continues the early Christian practice of proclaiming Jesus in these synagogues. We find, though, that he has a problem. As a reader, you know that Saul had a life changing encounter with Jesus, but his audience didn’t know this. They are confused; they know Saul’s reputation as a persecutor; they question his motives. 
• In this passage of Acts, we miss something of Saul’s journey. In Galatians 1:17 Saul/Paul writes that during this time, he went away into Arabia then went back to Damascus to preach for three years. Saul’s life had drastically changed and he needs strength and guidance—he seeks and finds this with God. 
• Pray. Reflect on where you need strength and guidance in your life. Ask God to enter your life and help you find this. 

COMMUNITY PRAYER LIST

Doug. Bobby. Collier. Glenn. Adam.  Mary.  Clyde.  Linda. Betty Carolyn. Jeff. Albert. Richard. Lois. Ross. Tiny. Donald. Bill. Barbara. Andreas. Helen. Bonnie Brenner. Baker Family. Robert McKenzie Family. Terry Kibler. Carolyn Harlow. Jeremy. Jeff Green. Lyric. Earl Graves. Mickey Huff. Huff & Welch families.