Paul’s story unfolds all through the book of Acts and it is no easy journey, but God never said it would be. Instead when God instructs Ananias to go pray for Paul so that his vision can be restored after his encounter with Jesus. God says this about Paul…
But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; 16 for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.” – Acts 9:15-16 (NASB)
Paul did suffer, but nothing could stop him in the mission God had given him.
- Not rejection.
- Not demonic opposition.
- Not treats of violence.
- Not flattery & praise
- Not the brink of death
- Not dissension within.
- Not torture or imprisonment
- Not a legal system.
- Not even a storm you can’t control.
Later Paul writes about this journey of following Christ and how unstoppable the love of God is…
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written, “FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.” 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:31-39 (NASB)
God is unstoppable in His love for us. Paul’s life of ministry simply reflects God’s heart.
What obstacles are stopping you from being who God has called you to be?…or doing what God has called you to do?
There is nothing in our way that is bigger than our God.