“Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them in shackles to Jerusalem. Now as he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, but get up and enter the city, and it will be told to you what you must do.” The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints in Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen Instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer in behalf of My name.” So, Ananias departed and entered the house, and after Laying his hands on him said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like fish scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized; and he took food and was strengthened.” (Acts 9:1-19 NASB)
Just in case you don’t make Bible Study at your church tonight or if you were not planning to take out your Bible until next Sunday, let me get you started with a short Bible Study on “Transitions” this morning. Now do not think this is too long, because around 450 words of this meditation are the opening verses, the “logical passage,” as Dr, Troy E, Ladd would advise you to look at when teaching or preaching.
We all go through transitions. As a matter of fact most of us are going through some kind of transition right now. Let me name a few: transitioning from young to older, dealing with a problem that started out like a spark, but now has turned into a blazing fire, starting a new job where the expectations are different or perhaps you are in the same job and the expectations have been changed as the organization is doing more with less. Other examples: transitioning from working at home in your sweats to going back to sweating it out in your layers of fall clothing back at the workplace, going through that long transition from suffering in the nighttime, awaiting joy in the morning, transitioning in making your relationship or situation work, transitioning from mainly thinking about self to thinking about ministry, transitioning from the time when gasoline was 22 cents a gallon to nearly $6 or more in the present time, going from a big income to a smaller fixed income or even almost no income, transitioning from being supported by parents financially to being out on our own, and transitioning from being unaware of the injustices in your country that were once hidden, but now are in full view, and transitioning as we experience the changes that comes as our years reach the December time of life. I know I did not name them all. I’m sure you have your own challenging transition you are dealing with in the present state. So, as you read the passage above, pull out some things about Paul’s transition and list them on a piece of paper that you write a heading on that says, “Things To Expect in My Personal Transitioning.”
After studiously going over the opening passage, you will probably come up with the fact that in positive transitions, divine intervention is necessary; something happens where God gets our attention. You may add to your list, a word from God. Still, you may write, God will speak to me in the worst of times to bring about the best of times in God’s sight. You might add “His will” versus “My will.”
There is much more you may add to your list. I’m sure you will include the following in describing what can help you in your personal transition. Perhaps you will mention stopping what you are doing and letting the Lord direct your path. Possibly, you may list “look for God to send a specific message for you at a specific time for a specific purpose.” Surely you will list praying. Definitely you will list being depended upon the Holy Spirit. Of course you will list changing who you now spend time with, much like Paul spent several days with the disciples, who were at Damascus.
Transitions are not easy. Learn from the passage above and you will be able to handle them better, and as a consequence you find yourself in a place where you can benefit the work and the witnessing that the Lord delegated to you. Get your piece of paper! Get to making your list! Get busy! Enjoy your Bible study! Be diligent! Be blessed!
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 NASB)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King