Joyful Moments in Christ

When God takes the time to correct us, there is only one appropriate response: repentance and obedience. Paul did just this! In Acts 26, he recounts his dramatic conversion to King Agrippa:

And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

Acts 26:15-18 (ESV)

A Radical Change of Heart

Before this moment, Paul had been zealous in his persecution of followers of “the Way,” believing Jesus was not God. Thankfully, God intervened directly, and Jesus himself appeared to correct Paul’s misguided passion. Recognizing the gravity of the truth revealed to him, Paul made a complete turnaround, channeling his energy into spreading the Gospel message instead of opposing it.

Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.

Acts 26:19-20 (ESV)

Paul could have hesitated, taking a cautious approach to test the waters, but he chose immediate and full obedience. With the knowledge he now possessed, Paul understood that proclaiming Jesus as the way to forgiveness and salvation was not optional. His love for others drove him to action—he couldn’t bear the thought of people missing this truth and facing eternal separation from God.

God’s Support in Obedience

Fortunately, Paul didn’t face this monumental task alone. He had God’s help every step of the way:

To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.

Acts 26:22-23 (ESV)

Paul’s bold testimony was powered by God’s strength, enabling him to proclaim the Gospel to everyone he met, whether small or great.

What Is Our Response?

As we reflect on Paul’s story, we must ask ourselves: do we truly believe that devotion to Jesus is the only way to receive forgiveness and eternal life? If so, how are we responding to this truth? Are we, like Paul, enthusiastically sharing this message, or are we continuing life as if nothing has changed?

Beyond the Gospel message, there may be other areas in our lives where God is calling us to change. Each time he reveals something that needs correction, we face a choice: to obey or not to obey. What choice are you going to make?

Reflection Questions

1. When has God corrected you in the past? How did you respond?
2. Do you truly believe that Jesus is the only way to forgiveness and eternal life? How does this belief shape your actions?
3. What might God be asking you to change or correct in your life today?
4. How can you rely on God’s strength to make those changes, just as Paul did?
5. Are you sharing the Gospel message with the same urgency and enthusiasm Paul demonstrated? Why or why not?

Reflective Prayer

Consider using these verses to pray using the ACTS method: Adoration, Confession, Thankfulness, and Supplication:

• Adoration: Praise God. Do these verses bring any specific characteristics of God to mind?
• Confession: Tell God that you are sorry for specific sins. Do these verses bring any specific sins to mind?
• Thankfulness: Show gratitude towards God. Does anything from these verses inspire gratitude?
• Supplication: Make requests for yourself and for others. Does anything from these verses inspire a prayer?

If helpful, you can use a prayer journal template.

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English Standard Version (ESV): Unless otherwise noted, scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.