I love to hear stories of how Jesus shows up and reveals Himself to people, especially those who are not even thinking about Him! I think of my many dear friends who have loved ones wandering far away from Jesus and everything they were taught as children. Seeking Jesus is not even remotely on their radar.
I was driving on the highway the other day, and a song came on the radio ( I confess I listen to Country Music). The song is called. “I Didn’t Find Jesus” by The Sound. It is a guy’s story of driving along the road when a song came on the radio and how God grabbed His attention and His heart in that moment. It changed him forever.
Two weeks ago, we had a baptism in our church. Out of the three testimonies we heard, two of them were stories about how God rescued the individual from a life of addiction. I love how Jesus is not afraid of the messy lives of people.
Most people find Jesus because they went searching for Him, which is beautiful. However, I want to celebrate today, that sometimes Jesus steps right into the mess of the lives of people who were not searching for Him, and He saves them.
Paul, who was called Saul, was a perfect example. At the beginning of his unexpected meeting with Jesus, he was not seeking Christ. Quite the opposite actually. Here are a few verses that describe his conversion.
“Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2and 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. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “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.” Acts 9:1-6
I love how Saul’s lack of interest in knowing Jesus did not discourage God whatsoever. He had big plans for Saul/Paul, and as we read through the book of Acts we can see how Jesus redeemed and carried out these plans.
God does not change. The One who stepped into Paul’s life and revealed Himself still does this today. Be encouraged! God still intervenes in the lives of wandering, distracted, lost sheep.
Dear Father,
Thank You that at this moment You see my loved one. You know exactly where they are and what they are doing. Thank You that You came to redeem people whose lives are messy. I lay my loved one at Your feet today. Intervene in their life as You did for Paul. Thank You for your constant love for Your sheep wherever they are at this moment.
In Jesus Name,
Amen