God can take our misguided zeal and passion and turn it for His good.
Holy Spirit changes our perspectives and our beliefs into HIS Son’s.
However unworthy we feel... we are His witnesses to others. The Good News is that He wants no one to live without Him.
When it comes to the Body of Christ we are all one, Jew and Gentile, edifying the Body in love to bring forth fruit onto God.
Romans 4:7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.”
Acts 26:16 But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you.
Scripture indicates that when we place our faith in Jesus, we are forgiven and clothed in Jesus' righteousness (Isaiah 61:10; Romans 4:22-24). This means that when God sees us, He sees Jesus' righteousness, not our sin.
As God's beloved children, we are called to trust God's plan, walk in His good ways, and represent Him to the world (John 14:1; Colossians 2:6-7). First5
I love Eleonora Duse’s affirmation, “If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things of nature have a message that you understand, rejoice, for your soul is alive.”
As long as our culture worships at the altar of bravado and swagger, we live disconnected. When we are afraid to be tiny, or humble or meek, we live paranoid and anxious.
…our wealth (our abundance--in relationships, wonder, gratitude, delight) comes when we live, or let spill, what is already inside of each of us—the tiny gifts soaked in grace. A smile, a tender or healing touch, a life-giving song, a listening ear, a gentle hand, a gesture of empathy, a kind word, a hand to lift someone up, a compassionate hug. The tiny gifts that do our heart good. The tiny gifts that make our world a better place. Sabbath Moments
“Strong people don't put others down. They lift them up.” Michael P. Watson
Would you open your heart to this possibility? God is wooing you, pursuing you, romancing you. Refuse him if you wish. Ignore him if you desire. But he will not give up. Did he not promise to lead you home? And has he ever broken a promise? Not on your life. This is the message of God, the aggressive promise of grace. Trust it. Max Lucado
Acts 22:12–16
12 “Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there, 13 came to me; and he stood and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that same hour I looked up at him. 14 Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth. 15 For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’ The New King James Version
Since Ananias, an upstanding Jew, approved of Paul, then other Jews should not object. God of our fathers reinforces that the God who commissioned Paul is the God of Israel, Yahweh. The Just One title is used in the prophecy of the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53:11, to refer to how the Suffering Servant makes others right before Yahweh by His death and resurrection. Witness matches Jesus’ original commission at the beginning of Acts. Faithlife Study Bible
The apostle goes on to relate how he was confirmed in the change he had made. The Lord having chosen the sinner, that he should know his will, he is humbled, enlightened, and brought to the knowledge of Christ and his blessed gospel. Christ is here called that Just One; for he is Jesus Christ the righteous. Those whom God has chosen to know his will, must look to Jesus, for by him God has made known his good-will to us. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 9:17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 23:11 But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.”
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