Recognizing Jesus

Scripture: As he [Saul] neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. Acts 9:3-5

Observation: There is something amazing about Saul's question. Saul is a learned man of God - an educated Jew, a Pharisee and close to the Sadducees. Yet when a supernatural voice calls out to him from heaven, he immediately realizes ... he has no idea who this is.

Application: This fact is at the center of the reality of Jesus - even non-believers recognize him when they see him. Saul was so convinced that those who believed in Jesus were wrong that he was hunting them down. Yet, he immediately recognized that Jesus - a powerful lord he did not know - was addressing him. This voice wasn't the God he 'knew', but a real person with heavenly authority.

Saul was specially selected by Jesus - non-believers today should not expect this sort of direct confrontation from Jesus in order to be converted. However, non-believers are exposed to Jesus every day, and every once in a while ... they know it. Their eternity depends on how they choose to process and respond to that exposure.

In addition, my discipleship is tied to my active response to Jesus as well. How often do I see Jesus acting in a situation, and either ignore it, or accept it casually, or maybe thank God and move along. Instead, I need to begin responding to Jesus. I need to acknowledge him, then join with him, then ensure everyone else sees him too, then talk about him.

If non-believers can recognize Jesus, I should be willing to respond to Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, I know exactly where you have acted around me. I am willing to join you there, and acknowledge you to others through actions and words. Here I am. Amen.