Corona Devo 901

Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.  ~Psalm 51:12

Remember "puppy love"?  

There was joy in it!  And an almost supernatural electricity and buoyancy that surrounded our thoughts and energy related to that person or mere thoughts of them.

As we read about the apostle Paul, something about his story and how hard he fell for Jesus is inspiring.  And Paul didn't grow cold after his puppy-love beginning with the Lord: he remained true and unswerving in his devotion and vigor for God for the rest of his life.  

The best part about Paul's story...is his story.  And he told it over and over to demonstrate to others how we can be one way when we are without Jesus in our lives, and then (boom!) once we encounter Him (and fall in love), we are different, and we are changed for him.  And there is joy in that!

So, today let's listen as Paul retells his story to a crowd in Jerusalem, and may we be reminded of our own story:

  • Where we were without Jesus.  
  • How we came to know Him, and hopefully there was a spark, an electricity, a joy within us when we first "found" Jesus.  
  • May our joy be restored to us today.  May we be willing to allow God to refresh us, and may the joy of our salvation sustain us.

Then Paul said, “I am a Jew...and I was brought up and educated here in Jerusalem...I was carefully trained in our Jewish laws and customs. I became very zealous to honor God in everything I did, just like all of you today. (4) And I persecuted the followers of the Way, hounding some to death, arresting both men and women and throwing them in prison...

(6) “As I was on the road, approaching Damascus about noon, a very bright light from heaven suddenly shone down around me. (7) I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’

(8) “‘Who are you, lord?’ I asked.

“And the voice replied, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, the one you are persecuting.’ (9) The people with me saw the light but didn’t understand the voice speaking to me.

(10) “I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?’

“And the Lord told me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told everything you are to do.’

(11) “I was blinded by the intense light and had to be led by the hand to Damascus by my companions. (12) A man named Ananias lived there. He was a godly man, deeply devoted to the law, and well regarded by all the Jews of Damascus. (13) He came and stood beside me and said, ‘Brother Saul, regain your sight.’ And that very moment I could see him!

(14) “Then he told me, ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and hear him speak. (15) For you are to be his witness, telling everyone what you have seen and heard. (16) What are you waiting for? Get up and be baptized. Have your sins washed away by calling on the name of the Lord.’ ~Acts 22:3-4, 6-14

Paul's best "go-to" and "how-to" story about coming to faith was his own.  It's good to remember (and retell!) our before-and-after Jesus tale, and may our love for the Lord be rekindled and set freshly ablaze as we remember the energy and excitement of first "falling" for Him. 

Have we grown complacent lately?  Lazy in our faith?  Have we become unfaithful to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?  

We cannot forget (or grow cold) in our zeal for the Lord.  He misses us (dearly) when we do:

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. (5) Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.  ~Revelation 2:4-5  

Therefore tell the people: This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the LORD Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the LORD Almighty.  ~Zechariah 1:3

The "puppy love" phase never has to end with us and Jesus.  There is joy in it!  There is a supernatural (spiritual!) electricity and buoyancy that surrounds our thoughts and energy related to Him, His Works and His people.

Lord, may we return to You today.  You are our first love, and our last love.  You ARE love, Lord.  Amen.

The Almighty God of the universe did not just stop Paul on his way...the Lord stops us today.  He has chosen us to know his will and to see the Righteous One and hear him speak. WE are to be his witness, telling everyone what we have seen and heard. What are we waiting for? Get up today! Be baptized if you haven't already made the decision to do so. Have your sins washed away by calling on the name of the Lord today. (Acts 22:14-16)

Lord, don't let our love and zest and energy for You grow cold.  May we remain true and unswerving in our devotion and vigor for You for the rest of our life...and today! 

There is joy in that!

Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.  ~Psalm 51:12

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com  

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