Chosen Instruments

Acts 9:15-16

English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁵ 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. ¹⁶ For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”

Saul of Tarsus(aka Paul) was on his way to Damascus with the intent to find Christians, bind them and bring them to Jerusalem when he was literally stopped in his tracks by none other than the Lord Jesus himself. I hope you will take time to read the full account in Acts 9 but basically, the Lord sent him into the city where he was blind and did not eat or drink for 3 days. Then the Lord told a disciple named Ananias to go to Saul so he could regain his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Ananias mentioned to the Lord that Saul was a persecutor of Christians, but the Lord explained to Ananias that Saul was His "chosen instrument" to bring His Name before the Gentiles and kings and children of Israel. There is a sharp contrast between being a persecutor and a chosen instrument. Saul's encounter with the Lord made all the difference in the world. It turned his life around and pointed him in a new direction. Later, Saul went to Jerusalem to join the disciples who were skeptical and afraid of him.

Where were you when the Lord stopped you in your tracks and you met Jesus? What was it like when He turned your life around through repentance and pointed you in a new direction? Do you recognize that you too are his chosen instrument to represent him? Paul went out to the world. Where does the Lord plan to send you? I imagine it was hard for Paul each time he was reminded of his past. Is it hard for you? Do people doubt you? Does Satan, the father of lies, cause you to doubt yourself? In verse 16, Jesus made it clear that suffering would be a part of Saul's life. We don't like to think of "chosen instruments" suffering. Listen to Paul's words in Phil. 3:8, "Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ..." May the Lord give us this attitude in whatever capacity He chooses to use us today.