The Daily Fountain Devotional Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 25 January 2025 – TOPIC: SAVED TO SERVE
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THE DAILY FOUNTAIN
DAILY DEVOTIONAL OF THE
CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION)
DATE: SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 2025
(St. Paul’s Day)
TOPIC: SAVED TO SERVE
READ: ACTS 9:1-22 (NKJV)
9:1. Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest
9:2. and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
9:3. As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven.
9:4. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
9:5. 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.”
9:6. 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.”
9:7. And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one.
9:8. Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought [him] into Damascus.
9:9. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
9:10. Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”
9:11. So the Lord [said] to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for [one] called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying.
9:12. “And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting [his] hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”
9:13. Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.
9:14. “And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”
9:15. But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.
9:16. “For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
9:17. And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
9:18. Immediately there fell from his eyes [something] like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.
9:19. So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.
9:20. Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.
9:21. Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?”
9:22. But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this [Jesus] is the Christ.
THE MESSAGE:
Today is St Paul’s Day, a day set aside to commemorate the life and ministry of St Paul, an apostle. Our feast today not only celebrates him, but it specifically focuses on his conversion. Paul was committed to persecuting the early Christians in Jerusalem; he even approved of Stephen’s execution. On his way to Damascus to arrest believers, Jesus appeared to him in a great light, and he was struck blind. After three days, Ananias laid hands on him, and he regained his sight. It was this direct call from Jesus Himself that transformed Saul. He began to preach that Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God, is the Messiah. He wrote thirteen out of the twenty-seven books of the New Testament, and God used him to reach out to the Gentile world. He understood that he was saved to serve.
It is important that you understand that God can use any man who is yielded to Him, to achieve His purpose. God can turn a sinner into a saint, a thief or swindler into a soul winner, a person with an ugly and dark past, into a noble vessel of honour in in His hands. God has a purpose and a plan for everyone, and He implements His plan by showing mercy when it is least expected. Our past is Inconsequential in Christ. When we receive the new life Christ gives, we are forgiven and are totally made new in Him. We who have been saved are now called to serve.
PRAYER: Lord, thank You for the gift of salvation; use me for Your kingdom in Jesus’ name, Amen
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