So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”   Acts 9:6 NKJV

The news headline flashed across my phone. Four people had been brutally murdered in an attack on a synagogue in Jerusalem. Two thousand years ago, there was another attack planned. This group was on a mission to seize Christians, both men and women, who would face imprisonment or death.  Suddenly, as Saul neared Damascus, a light shone around him. Falling to the ground, he heard the voice of Christ asking, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me” (Acts 9:4). The transforming power of God took place at that very moment.

The next response from Saul is found in our key verse.   “What do You want me to do?” Instantly, Saul went from persecuting to service, from rebellion to obedience. Saul became the Apostle Paul. Do most Christians have such an instantaneous change? Sadly, no, but that is because we have a hard time dying to self. We like to hold onto some of our sin. We still want to be in charge of our lives rather than obediently submit to God.

The instructions are still the same for us today as they were for Paul. “Arise and go!” Immediately, at the point of salvation, we are to serve God. Arise and go!

It was many years before I got “going”. I sang in the choir, and I worked in VBS, but it was not until total blindness was impending that I began writing. Now I cannot write enough.

Friend, have you met Christ on your Damascus Road? Paul’s conversion exemplifies that no one is too broken for God to save. Like Paul, ask God what He wants you to do. The next step is to arise and go. 

Read the entire account of Paul’s conversion in Acts 8:1-3 and Acts 9:1-18. Have you asked God, “What do You want me to do?” Have you been obedient to arise and go?

Dear Lord, thank You for saving broken sinners like Paul and like me. Help me to arise and go serve You in whatever You are calling me to do. Amen.

Exchange fear for faith, worry for worship, and panic for peace with Carolyn’s new book, Eyes of Faith: Winning the Battle Between Our Feelings and Our Faith.