January 7, 2023 – Our Daily Bread Devotional Message|| ODB for Saturday
Read January 7, 2023 – Our Daily Bread Devotional || ODB for Saturday Message
READ SATURDAY ODB DEVOTIONAL, OUR DAILY BREAD 7TH JANUARY 2023 WRITTEN BY KENNETH PETERSEN (OUR DAILY BREAD MINISTRIES)
TOPIC: Who Are You, Lord?
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 18-19; Matthew 6:1–18
SCRIPTURE: Acts 9:1–9
KEY VERSE: “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. Acts 9:5
January 7, 2023 – Our Daily Bread Devotional INSIGHT
Paul’s encounter with Jesus on the Damascus road wasn’t only life-changing but, in a truly literal sense, was world-changing as well. The passionate heart of the apostle Paul (formerly known as Saul) was, in a sense, the engine God used to spread the gospel throughout the Roman empire. As the Holy Spirit directed him, he took the gospel throughout the Roman empire of his day and, along with the missionaries he mentored, even reached far beyond the boundaries of Rome. His letters touched both Asia Minor and Europe and were, it’s believed, circulated far beyond their intended destinations. It must have given Paul great satisfaction to know that God’s grace had not only rescued him from his sinful past but also equipped him for a purposeful and productive life while preparing him for an eternal destiny. Still today, the term Damascus road speaks of a moment of radical transformation in a person’s life.
Our Daily Bread Devotional 7th January 2023 MESSAGE
At age sixteen, Luis Rodriguez had already been in jail for selling crack. But now, arrested for attempted murder, he was in prison again—looking at a life sentence. But God spoke into his guilty circumstances. Behind bars, young Luis remembered his early years when his mother had faithfully taken him to church. He now felt God tugging at his heart. Luis eventually repented of his sins and came to Jesus.
In the book of Acts, we meet a zealous Jewish man named Saul, who was also called Paul. He was guilty of aggravated assault on believers in Jesus and had murder in his heart (Acts 9:1). There’s evidence he was a kind of gang leader, and part of the mob at the execution of Stephen (7:58). But God spoke into Saul’s guilty circumstances—literally. On the street leading into Damascus, Saul was blinded by a light, and Jesus said to him, “Why do you persecute me?” (9:4). Saul asked, “Who are you, Lord?” (v. 5), and that was the beginning of his new life. He came to Jesus.
Luis Rodriguez served time but eventually was granted parole. Since then, he’s served God, devoting his life to prison ministry in the United States and Central America.
God specializes in redeeming the worst of us. He tugs at our hearts and speaks into our guilt-drenched lives. Maybe it’s time we repent of our sins and come to Jesus.
REFLECT AND PRAY
What guilt are you experiencing or have experienced? How do you sense God is calling or has called you back to Himself?
Jesus, I’ve strayed from You, but I feel You tugging at my heart. Forgive me of my sins, I pray.
Our Daily Bread Devotional 7th January 2023 || ODB for Saturday Message . Our Daily Bread Ministries (ODB) is a Christian organization founded by Dr. Martin De Haan in 1938. It is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with over 600 employees. It produces several devotional publications, including Our Daily Bread. our daily bread devotional for today audio our daily bread booklet.
