Sunday, February 02, 2020

God's Love - Transforming, Healing & Unconditional

Acts 9:1-31 & Acts 9:36-43 by Rev. David L.S. Robertson
Series:From Disciple to Apostle - A Journey through the Book of Acts

Abraham, Abraham! Jacob, Jacob! Moses, Moses! This is the way God calls and interrupts. The double name calling is a pretty good indication that God is going to do something, not tomorrow or some time later, but immediately, right now. Saul, Saul! Calls the voice. “Why do you persecute me?” (Acts 9: 4) There is blinding light. Saul falls to the ground. And life for Saul is turned upside down. Like Abraham, Jacob and Moses… Saul is called into action right here and right now, by God speaking through the Jewish Jesus. And that’s important. All that is being proclaimed is held by the unconditional love of God showing up in blinding light, the voice of Jesus and the acts of the apostles. Saul doesn’t stand a chance. Let’s use a wide-angle lens for a moment to see the story of Saul’s conversion in context. By the time we reach today’s reading from Acts chapter 9, there have already been two significant stories of conversion: Acts 8:14 the conversion of the Samaritans, Acts 8:34, the conversion of the Ethiopian Eunuch. Notice that each conversion leading up to Saul’s is an ever-increasing reach into the gentile world—the non-Jewish world. Notice that in the gospel according to Jesus Christ crucified and risen, God’s unconditional love is moving out into the wider world and touching the lives of both Jews and gentiles. It is a remarkable story of transformation and life-giving faith that serves to love and heal the human soul. Already, the book of Acts is speaking to these wonders. And then…
Duration:14 mins 39 secs