week of 03-01-11 3rd recorded HighQuest Bible Study

The passage I read was Acts 22:1-11

You can find that passage here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2022:1-11&version=NIV

My summary of the passage is this:

Here Paul shares part of the story of his conversion on the road to Damascus. A bright light from heaven flashed, Saul (Paul) fell to the ground and heard the Lord ask, “Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?” Paul questions the identity of the light and Jesus introduces himself. Once Saul knows who he is speaking with, he responds with “What shall I do, Lord?”. He is then told to go to Damascus where he will be told of all that has been assigned to him. He is led there because the light has blinded him.

As I reflect:

I don’t really know how to reflect on this one. It seems to me to be a very straight forward passage of scripture. Paul is being attacked by a crowd of a large number of jews and he starts by identifying himself and relating to them. I like that and use that approach often in witnessing. Relating to someone can let them know that you were once like them and that you weren’t born this distant person that now stands in front of them. Paul goes on to tell them that He too persecuted Christians and in fact even hunted them. Likewise another great tool in witnessing. Not only have I now related to you, but I also have confessed to you that I had the same view of people “like me” once upon a time. Then he moves straight into the story of his salvation. He tells them that he had an encounter with Jesus and from that moment on, everything has changed and he has been given a new mission. In witnessing, I’d say he did a pretty good job there. Introduction, relation, purposeful message. He was careful to be humble in who he is and boast only in the glory of Christ too.

My response to the Lord:

Lord, I confess that I am in no way worthy to bask in your glory. I am undeserving of your favor. I am lowly before you Father. But I pray none the less to be used by you that I may glorify you today. I also have a past that was greatly against your kingdom’s advancing and I was living as a ragdoll to satan. I am thankful that you broke me down and rebuilt me. To you be all the glory and honor and I will praise you forever for saving me from hell; from the condemnation of my sins; and from myself. In Jesus Name.