Freedom — From Your Former Life – Friday
TODAY’S VERSE
Acts 8:1a
And Saul approved of his execution. (ESV)
As we close out this week, I want to lean into what is, in my opinion, the most haunting part of Paul’s “former life.”
Before Paul was radically transformed by an encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, he wasn’t whimsically going about his life as if it had no purpose. He wasn’t wandering through his days chasing after the wind. He wasn’t distracted by the accumulation of things, the pursuit of pleasure, or a desire for fame. He was (in his mind) chasing after God. In fact, he was convinced he was living in alignment with God’s will. So much so that he literally watched the execution of one of Jesus’ first followers with approval.
I’m willing to bet that no one reading this right now is currently killing people in the name of “doing God’s will.” Thank you, Jesus, for that. But that doesn’t mean we’re immediately off the hook. Could there be things we are participating in or avoiding that, despite our best intentions, are actually opposed to what God is actively doing in the world around us? If we have any humility at all, we have to be open to the possibility that the answer to that question is “yes.”
What, then, can we do to ensure we don’t wander into a life that is misaligned with what Jesus wants for us? Allow me to quickly parse out five noteworthy disciplines from Jesus and His earliest followers that can serve as tethers for us to our Father’s will:
Scripture. If you want to hear God speaking today, the clearest path is to acclimate your heart and mind to His voice through interacting with what He has already spoken. The best place to start is with one of the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John).
Obedience. It’s one thing to read your Bible; it’s another thing to actually live out what it’s calling you to do. The order of John 8:31-32 has always struck me. Abiding in His word (obeying His teaching) precedes knowing the truth, which in turn sets us free.
Humility. In the birth narrative of Jesus, Luke records a song sung by Jesus’ mother (Mary). One line reads, “he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.” Our humility (or lack thereof) dictates our receptivity to the things of God.
Silence. It is no secret that we live loud and busy lives in a loud and busy world. And in the chaos of this excess noise, we drown out God’s voice. One of the most important things we can do to stay connected to our Father is to enjoy His presence in the quiet of His creation.
Community. One of my favorite parts about the conversion story of Saul/Paul is the inclusion of a man named Ananias (see Acts 8:1-19). God did not need to include someone else in this process, but He chose to. Paul’s temporary blindness required him to be led and healed by the hands of others. May we never think we can experience God’s leading in our lives outside of a loving Christ-centered community.
APPLICATION
Take time today to evaluate your practice of the five things listed above. Where are you currently experiencing flourishing? Where are you currently experiencing spiritual dryness? What step(s) towards freedom do you sense Jesus is inviting you to take this week?
PRAYER
Father, may we never live under the impression that we are following You if we are indeed not. Help us to desire (above every other desire) to hear Your voice, even if it is gently rebuking us back to obedience.