December 6, 2016
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Framing the Moment

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Opening Prayer

Heavenly Father, as I read and ponder Your Word today, by your Spirit enliven and stretch me as I seek to embrace Your truth.

Read Galatians 1:11-24

[11] I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. [12] I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. [13] For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. [14] I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. [15] But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased [16] to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. [17] I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus. [18] Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days. [19] I saw none of the other apostles-only James, the Lord’s brother. [20] I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. [21] Then I went to Syria and Cilicia. [22] I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. [23] They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” [24] And they praised God because of me.

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

“God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Cor. 1:9).

These verses recall Paul’s conversion (Acts 9). Here he wants to frame the experience, to show its meaning as part of God’s mission in the world. His language echoes the Old Testament (15). Like a faithful prophet (Jer. 1:5), and like the Servant of the Lord (Isa. 49:1), Paul sensed that God had been stirring in his life from the start. The Damascus moment brought into view a purpose shaped long before in heaven. The encounter had an intensely personal focus—God “was pleased to reveal his Son” (15,16). Paul saw Jesus. Jesus appeared to him (1 Cor. 15:8). God’s light shone in his heart, “in the face of Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6).
The vision had a wide purpose—to “preach [Christ] among the Gentiles” (16). It was never meant to be a closed and private experience. God wanted to stir Paul and to commission and send him. There was a world to reach, and people far away to tell about Jesus.
So there were places to go. Paul went to “Arabia” (17)—possibly the land we call Jordan, or maybe the Sinai region. Was this thinking time, to absorb what had happened? Or was it a preaching expedition? Certainly Paul was preaching before very long (23), and this caught the attention of other Christians, who gave praise for what they heard (24). They reckoned this change in his life could only have one explanation: God.
Along the way there were stories to hear. Paul talked with “Cephas” (the name Peter, in Aramaic), who had known Jesus longer than he had (18). Paul’s Christian commitment had brought him into a new family and he wanted to learn more of their story.

These verses recall Paul’s conversion (Acts 9). Here he wants to frame the experience, to show its meaning as part of God’s mission in the world. His language echoes the Old Testament (15). Like a faithful prophet (Jer. 1:5), and like the Servant of the Lord (Isa. 49:1), Paul sensed that God had been stirring in his life from the start. The Damascus moment brought into view a purpose shaped long before in heaven. The encounter had an intensely personal focus—God “was pleased to reveal his Son” (15,16). Paul saw Jesus. Jesus appeared to him (1 Cor. 15:8). God’s light shone in his heart, “in the face of Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6).

The vision had a wide purpose—to “preach [Christ] among the Gentiles” (16). It was never meant to be a closed and private experience. God wanted to stir Paul and to commission and send him. There was a world to reach, and people far away to tell about Jesus.

So there were places to go. Paul went to “Arabia” (17)—possibly the land we call Jordan, or maybe the Sinai region. Was this thinking time, to absorb what had happened? Or was it a preaching expedition? Certainly Paul was preaching before very long (23), and this caught the attention of other Christians, who gave praise for what they heard (24). They reckoned this change in his life could only have one explanation: God.

Along the way there were stories to hear. Paul talked with “Cephas” (the name Peter, in Aramaic), who had known Jesus longer than he had (18). Paul’s Christian commitment had brought him into a new family and he wanted to learn more of their story.

Apply

Are there moments in your story, or aspects of the way you live, for which God is the only explanation? Who might want to give praise for that today?

Closing prayer

Father, like Paul I have to say that You me called by Your grace (15) and I became Your child. I cannot praise You enough for Your goodness.

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