Good day dear friends.
Please don't forget our Feast of Easter worship today at noon in Lowman Chapel, followed by our physical "feast" in the Activity Building.
Please be in prayer for those families of the church who are "sharing" viruses and bugs. May the Lord bring healing to them all!
Here is our study guide for today as we continue to ask God to open our minds to understand:
Thursday: For today read Saul’s conversion story in Acts 9. Please note the change that came to his life, especially when his “eyes were opened.” Do you think a change like that is still possible today in a person’s life? Do you think you need a change or opening of your mind/eyes to God’s moving? If, as Hebrews 13:8 says, true, then yes, Jesus can change lives. Be open to God moving in your life.
Saul's conversion was completely unexpected. Saul had it made for his day and age. Young, powerful, well-educated, well-connected, and extremely religious. He was a Pharisee by training, though his work was more of a lawyer for that sect. He hated Christians in his love for God. Read that sentence again. He believed he was best serving God by hating those who believed in Jesus. In his zest for stopping this movement called "the Way," he obtained permission to arrest all Christians in Damascus. On his way there was when he was knocked off his "high horse" as it was, by the risen Christ. Called by name, Jesus asked Saul why he was doing what he was doing. Blinded by the light that appeared with Jesus, Saul was blind for three days while he prayed and fasted. This was something Saul had always done, but now it was done in the fear of the Lord and it was the Lord who opened his mind before his eyes, to see what God was going to do with his life.
Such changes still continue in the lives of people. Most of the time the person seeks Christ and finds him. Just this morning in our morning Emmaus reunion group, one of the members shared how he meet a carnival worker who stayed behind after one of the carnivals left town. Homeless, the man sought food. This brother bought him used clothes and secured for him a place to stay where he could shower and dress. This morning that man told this brother that he was returning home to Arkansas and he handed our brother (who is a pastor), an envelope and said, "This is my tithe." The man had been talking with this pastor in previous days as to how the Lord became real to him and had helped him change his life. We pray for this young man in his trip home that all will go in ways that bless him and God.
Are you open to God's leading? Does your life need changing? Do you need the power of the Lord to change a habit or pattern in your life? Then receive the Good News: Jesus Christ never changes. Jesus is the same as He was yesterday, He is the same today, and will remain the same forever.
PRAYER: God of power and might, please come to my heart and work in it the changes that need to be made. Let me be aware of those things that need to die in my life and let new life come to replace them. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
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