Paul was going his self-assured way towards Damascus, when a blinding light came from heaven. He was knocked to the ground, trembling. Then a voice from heaven said, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4)
Paul had knowledge about God but did not know Him personally. Now on his knees, Paul heard these words from heaven, “I am Jesus whom you persecute” (9:5). The words turned Paul’s world upside down. Scripture says, “Trembling and astonished (Paul) said, ‘Lord, what would you have me to do?’” (22:10). Paul’s conversion was a dramatic work of the Holy Spirit. There is the cry of desperate repentance, acknowledging he has sinned and the need to get right with Almighty God.
Paul was being led by the Holy Spirit into the surrendered life. How could Paul serve Jesus? How could Paul know and please Jesus? Nothing else mattered to Paul, everything was rubbish compared to knowing Jesus. What did he, Paul, have to do?
The day of Pentecost was similar. Peter preached and the people were cut to the heart.
The people realised they were guilty and their plea of surrender was: “Brothers, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37) The people were ready to lay aside their own will and agenda and take up His will.
They were not going to submit to peer pressure and follow the crowd, they wanted to seek Him, Almighty God, alone.
Peter replied to the people, “Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, for all who the Lord your God will call.”
The path of surrender is:
(1) to know our lost state before a righteous and holy God (2) to yield to His requirements that we can become right with Him
(3) to walk with Him in this attitude as a disciple of Christ continually
(4) to obey what He asks us to do.
Post published in: Faith