12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.”
13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem;
14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”
15 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.”
17 So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
18 And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized;
19 and he took food and was strengthened.” Acts 9:10-19.
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Oh, how almost every Christian is proud to praise God for being sovereign over the stars! But, many resist acknowledging that God is sovereign over salvation.
And, of those few who acknowledge that God is sovereign over salvation, there are still too many who resist acknowledging that God is also sovereign over man’s work for God.
We considered God’s sovereignty over salvation in yesterday’s devotion titled “Irresistible Grace”. Today, we consider God’s sovereignty over man’s work for God.
The Scripture for today presents a sharp contrast which highlights God’s sovereignty over man’s work for God. “But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man (Saul), how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” 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;” Acts 9:13-15.
Paul was an apostle of Christ Jesus “by the will of God“. Ephesians 1:1.
Man thinks he has authority over his own works. Man may even have evil intentions. But, God is in control and is the One with authority over man’s works. God can even take one who is the supreme persecutor to tear down the church and turn him into being the supreme person to build up the church. Notice the contrasting parallelism between the phrases “to bind all who call on Your name” with “to bear My name”.
God is not just sovereign over man’s works for God as if God had to deal with foreign material. God is sovereign over us from the very beginning. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10.
Jesus “… gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.” Titus 2:14.
And, even after His creation and purification of His people for good works, God stays intimately involved in us. “for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 