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"Lord, What Do You Want Me To Do?" If there was a list of those in the first century who were least likely to become Christians, Saul of Tarsus would have ranked near the top, if not the top! Saul was a very religious man. In fact, he believed it was God’s will for him to try to eradicate Christianity from the face of the earth (Acts 26:9). But on the road to Damascus he encountered Christ, and his life was forever changed. We read of Saul’s conversion to Christ in Acts 9. In Acts 22 and 26 we find two accounts that Saul (whose name was changed to Paul) gave concerning his conversion. When we read the accounts of his conversion, we witness the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We learn many lessons from his conversion, but let’s focus in on one lesson in particular. In Acts 9:1-6, we find that Saul, "still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way [i.e., Christianity], whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then 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?’ Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads" (Acts 9:1-5). Now notice Saul’s next question: "So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" (Acts 9:6a). What a tremendous question! When you and I reach the point in our lives when we humble ourselves and ask, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”, we are in the right position to find the will of God for our lives. Saul didn’t ask, “What do I want?” Neither did Paul say, “I think the Lord’s will is…” He had been guilty of asking those questions in the past. Now that he had been confronted by Christ, he asked, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Saul thought he already knew God’s will, but he was wrong. You and I can be just as wrong. We also need to ask, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” When it comes to our salvation and living the kind of life that God wants us to live, it is a question of Lordship. The word “Lord” means master or ruler. The question that you and I need to answer is, “Who is my lord?” If we are honest, most of the time our answer is, “I am the lord of my life. I do what I want to do.” However, if we want to be saved from our sins and live truly abundant lives, we must humble ourselves and ask, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” In answer to Saul’s question, the Lord responded by saying, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do" (Acts 9:6). God sent Ananias to Saul, who was now a penitent believer, and instructed him saying, “Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16). Then Ananias told Saul about the wonderful plans that the Lord had for his life (Acts 22:17-18), a life to be filled with a glorious mission of teaching others about Christ, who is the Savior and the Lord. Our response must be that of Saul’s: believing in Christ, we must repent of our sins and be baptized so that our sins can be washed away (Acts 2:38; 22:16). Then, as Saul, we must live out our lives in submission to our Lord, who loved us enough to give His life for us (see Galatians 2:20). Will you ask, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”
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