"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied (Saul). ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me” (Acts 26:15-18)

Such is the compassion of the persecuted Jesus! While on the cross, being crucified for doing nothing wrong, we recall Jesus prayed: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). Early on, Jesus did teach His disciples (and us) saying: “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). Now, we see the resurrected Christ speaking the same consistent words of compassion towards Saul who persecuted His church. His words were: “Now get up and stand on your feet.”

Are there people who need this fresh start in our lives? Who needs to hear ‘get up and stand’? Doesn’t their darkness need to meet with God’s light in us? Yes! It’s time to open their eyes and deliver them from the power of Satan and darkness, as we stand in the gap through prayer and the love of Christ. Christ wants to give His light (Ephesians 5:14)!

#goodmorning 🌷

BeEncouraged❤️ Freely received. Freely shared