When finding the right person for a position, job, or particular role, it is clear that qualification matters. There will be a question on almost any application asking the applicant to list relevant skills, experience, or education. While this is the case in our world today, sometimes we need a reminder that this is not the way with Jesus. Jesus constantly called the person who seemed the least qualified. He made Himself known to the unpopular and marginalized. He even called people with sordid, sinful backgrounds and invited them to carry out His message to the rest of the world.
One of the unlikely people God used to spread the gospel was the apostle Paul. In the book of Acts, we find out that Paul, then known as Saul, was actually against Christianity. Acts 9:1 tells us that “Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers.” He was, by all accounts, the least likely person to be expected to spread God’s message and become the greatest missionary on earth, and yet he is exactly who God chose. In the middle of Saul’s plan to persecute Christians, God came to Paul and called him to a different life. Paul was on his mission to persecute Christians when a bright light shone from the sky, and he heard a loud voice saying, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting Me?” (Acts 9:4). When Paul asked who was speaking to him, the voice said, “I am Jesus! The one you are persecuting! Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do” (verse 6). After this conversation, Paul found himself blind and followed Jesus’ directions to go into the city and waited to hear what he should do.
While Paul was waiting for further instructions, God was on the move. He spoke to a man named Ananias. He told him to go to Saul, who at that moment was praying, and called him to lay hands on Paul so that he could have his sight again. Fearful of Paul and his anger and violence against Christians, Ananias was understandably concerned. “But Lord,” he said, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to believers in Jerusalem! And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon Your name!” (verses 13-14). God’s response to Ananias that day was, “Go, for Saul is My chosen instrument to take My message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. And I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake” (verses 15-16). God made it clear to Ananias that He uses anyone, regardless of their past and credentials, or lack thereof, and He was going to use Paul.
Paul’s story is a reminder to each one of us that God will use anyone to make Himself known and spread His message. God will use each one of us. When He calls us, He equips us with His power to make a difference.
Is there a place where you have disqualified yourself from doing something that God has called you to do? What is that area? What is God calling you to do? Why do you feel disqualified? How does Paul’s story encourage you that you are, indeed, qualified? Turn to God, ask Him to give you courage, confidence, and the boldness to step into whatever He has called you to do.
Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains.
As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”
“Who are you, lord?” Saul asked.
And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one! Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus. He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink.
Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord!” he replied.
The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now. I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.”
“But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem! And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.”
But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.”
So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. Afterward he ate some food and regained his strength.
Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem
Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days. And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed the Son of God!”
All who heard him were amazed. “Isn’t this the same man who caused such devastation among Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem?” they asked. “And didn’t he come here to arrest them and take them in chains to the leading priests?”
Saul’s preaching became more and more powerful, and the Jews in Damascus couldn’t refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. After a while some of the Jews plotted together to kill him. They were watching for him day and night at the city gate so they could murder him, but Saul was told about their plot. So during the night, some of the other believers lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the city wall.
When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the believers, but they were all afraid of him. They did not believe he had truly become a believer! Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus and how the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them that Saul had preached boldly in the name of Jesus in Damascus.
So Saul stayed with the apostles and went all around Jerusalem with them, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. He debated with some Greek-speaking Jews, but they tried to murder him. When the believers heard about this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus, his hometown.
The church then had peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it became stronger as the believers lived in the fear of the Lord. And with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it also grew in numbers.
