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  • Writer's picturePs. Albert Ng

Day 10: Wake-up Call

Reading: Acts 9:1-31


People "in between normals" are usually more sensitive to God's voice. How can they not? The chaos befalls us is like a wake-up call, forcing us to re-evaluate our lives.


In today's reading, we see how this happened to Saul.


If you were Saul's colleagues, you might secretly or openly admire him. If you had a daughter, Saul was more than a great candidate.


He was born into the right family, went to the right school, had a great career, and morally impeccable! (Phil 3:3-5)


Saul was competent and competitive, type-A for sure. He was the up-and-coming, young and successful guy you want in your team.


But there is something lurking behind the curtain. Saul had a dark side that he didn't even know.


The Dark Side


If you were a Christian, Saul was not your friend. When Stephen was murdered, Saul was there "giving approval to his death." (8:1) As the mega-persecution broke out, Saul was "breathing out murderous threats again the Lord's disciples." (9:1)


Saul was so on fire for his career that he would "destroy" his enemy. Since his career was a religious one, he resolved "to destroy the church." (Acts 8:3)


But let's be fair to Saul.


Saul was just like you and me. He genuinely believed that he was doing the right thing, not just for himself, but also for God!


But Saul was so sure of his right path that he chose to be blind to his wrong direction. There were all the tell-tale signs. If only he would choose to listen; if only he would choose to see ...


Perhaps Saul was speaking about himself when he said, "A man reaps what he sows." (Gal 6:9)


The Gracious God


But thankfully, God was gracious. He intervened before it was too late.


God knew Saul. He knew exactly what Saul needed. For a headstrong person like Saul, God chose to speak to him directly, in person, through a strong light! (How's that for a movie!)


As a result, Saul's life was thrown into chaos. "For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything." (9:9)


Everything that Saul held so strongly for so long was now in limbo. His "old normal" wasn't just gone. It was shattered!


How could he eat? He was in shock, and literally in the dark. He couldn't see any way out!


So, what was God doing here?


The Wake-Up Call


In a nutshell, God gave Saul a wake-up call, to stop him from his path of self-destruction.


God took away Saul's "old eyes" (so to speak), and gave him a set of "new eyes."


Now, from the depth of his heart, Saul of Tarsus can truly say, "Ah ... I see!"


Look! God didn't send us wake-up calls to scare us, beat us up, or tell us how bad we are. The goal of wake-up calls is not punishment but restoration. It shatters all the wrong assumptions that we have been holding so tightly. It's God's way of bringing us spiritual awakening.


If you find yourself in such a situation, follow the prophet Samuel's prayer:


God, Please "speak, for your servant is listening." (1 Samuel 3:10)


Reflection:


When was the last time you experienced a wake-up call? What was that like? What was God trying to teach you? If you are going through a wake-up call now, what do you think God is trying to tell you?


Prayer for Today:


Dear God,


It is such a comfort that you know me well. You know exactly where I am, and where I am heading. God, I pray that you will protect me from myself. Please wake me up if I am heading in the wrong direction. God, please speak, for I am listening. Please give me a new set of eyes so that I can truly see you. In the end, God, I want to please you.


In Jesus' name. Amen.





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