Looking Unto Jesus – Part 9 | Sunday Service | October 04, 2020

As you know we all are passing through some of the historic times, yet, we can see, God was same yesterday, today and indeed, He will remain the same tomorrow. And we must thank God for this.

We will continue with our ongoing series this morning again, “Looking unto Jesus” – Part 9.

Today we will learn and focus about one aspect that how God draws our attention towards Him.

But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”  And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.  But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”  The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.

So ill informed was Saul, that he thought he ought to do all he could against the name of Christ, and that he did God service thereby; he seemed to breathe in this as in his element. Let us not despair of renewing grace for the conversion of the greatest sinners, nor let such despair of the pardoning mercy of God for the greatest sin. It is a signal token of Divine favour, if God, by the inward working of his grace, or the outward events of his providence, stops us from prosecuting or executing sinful purposes. Saul saw that Just One. How near to us is the unseen world! It is but for God to draw aside the veil, and objects are presented to the view, compared with which, whatever is most admired on earth is mean and contemptible. Saul submitted without reserve, desirous to know what the Lord Jesus would have him to do. Christ’s discoveries of himself to poor souls are humbling; they lay them very low, in mean thoughts of themselves. For three days Saul took no food, and it pleased God to leave him for that time without relief. His sins were now set in order before him; he was in the dark concerning his own spiritual state, and wounded in spirit for sin. When a sinner is brought to a proper sense of his own state and conduct, he will cast himself wholly on the mercy of the Saviour, asking what he would have him to do. God will direct the humbled sinner, and though he does not often bring transgressors to joy and peace in believing, without sorrows and distress of conscience, under which the soul is deeply engaged as to eternal things, yet happy are those who sow in tears, for they shall reap in joy.

God tries to get his attention in the middle of a crisis. God also makes Saul realise as we can see in the verse four, i.e. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

We are living in the last days and we can clearly see lots of things happening around the world. God is clearly talking with us, are our eyes fixed on God? We are troubled by seeing all out plans are disturbed, why? Eventhough we are convinced in our hearts that we were doing good things, yet God has put a stop to it.

In Exodus 3, we read the situation when Moses came face to face with the burning bush. Yet Moses kept his eyes fixed in God, so why do you think we have trembled? Moses’ attention was taken and so was Saul’s attention by God. Even when out breath is not in our hands, who we are to question God that why He has taken our attention away?

Blows that wound cleanse away evil; strokes make clean the innermost parts.

And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”

To you, O Lord , I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. Make me to know your ways, O Lord ; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. Remember your mercy, O Lord , and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!

In worshipping God, we must lift up our souls to him. It is certain that none who, by a believing attendance, wait on God, and, by a believing hope, wait for him, shall be ashamed of it. The most advanced believer both needs and desires to be taught of God. If we sincerely desire to know our duty, with resolution to do it, we may be sure that God will direct us in it. The psalmist is earnest for the pardon of his sins. When God pardons sin, he is said to remember it no more, which denotes full remission. It is God’s goodness, and not ours, his mercy, and not our merit, that must be our plea for the pardon of sin, and all the good we need. This plea we must rely upon, feeling our own unworthiness, and satisfied of the riches of God’s mercy and grace. How boundless is that mercy which covers for ever the sins and follies of a youth spent without God and without hope! Blessed be the Lord, the blood of the great Sacrifice can wash away every stain.

God understands your exact situation. But trust, God is trying to get your attention and He is well aware of your life situations. And this is a very special time people of God where you can revive your relationship with God by fixing your eyes upon Him and looking unto Jesus.

God is at work and He seeks your attention!