Acts 9 Archives : Life with the King

I have new toothbrush that I’ve been meaning to open up and use. It’s a nice one with flossing bristles and a grippy handle. But, it’s still in the packaging; I’ve never opened it. I have it, I could use it, but for whatever reason, I’m choosing not to. I’m settling for just using the toothbrush I already have, even though I know the new one would probably do the job better. We don’t often talk about what it takes to make more of an effort, but sometimes it feels like taking on a whole new set of responsibilities when we level up—even with something small like a new toothbrush. For me, with a new toothbrush I need to make sure I’m careful not to fray it. I need to make sure to be more gentle. I need to adjust the way I use a toothbrush when I open a new one. And honestly, I just don’t want to take the extra care to bother with any of it; most of the time, I’d rather settle for the way things are. Anyone else relate?

Maintaining a low-effort attitude catches up with us eventually (she says from personal experience). A life with Jesus requires constant growth of us, every day. We are compelled to give of ourselves more, steward more, surrender more of our will to serve His will. There is real sacrifice required in following Jesus. Resisting that calling can only last so long before it leads to some real soul searching. The call to follow Jesus is a call to represent Him in the world; it’s no small act of service, He gave his life. But for us, often it’s lived out in the “small” moments of life. Opening up a new toothbrush in our walk with Jesus could look like walking away before we say something we regret, or choosing to show love when we aren’t comfortable doing so. It could be slowing down to see what others are doing to serve without acknowledgment and asking God if He’s calling us to serve too. We’re all different and we’re all called to serve in different ways, but all of them have one thing in common—loving others.

I have been guilty of refraining from responsibility to others and to service. But I’m realizing if I am called to serve in a certain way, that I must surrender and trust that God will provide what I need. I’ve been afraid of letting people down. But I’m reminding myself that everyone lets someone down eventually; that doesn’t mean I don’t serve others. The point of living isn’t to avoid letting anyone down, it’s to do the best we can as Jesus calls us and helps us along the way. We don’t have to put pressure on ourselves to be perfect or to serve God or others perfectly. The point is simply following and trusting Jesus, with every step we take.

The example of Ananias comes to mind. Ananias faced his fear and showed love to Saul of Tarsus out of love for and service to God, even though he wasn’t so excited about it at first. Acts chapter 9 says that he was a disciple in Damascus who God spoke to in a vision (verse 10). God told him to rise and go to Saul so that he might regain his sight (verses 11-12), “But Ananias answered, ‘Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done 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 carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. . . .'” (Acts 9:13-15). Ananias was cautious, even though God plainly told him exactly what he wanted him to do.

Ananias expressed his reticence, but when the Lord again told him to go to Saul, he did: “So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit‘” (Acts 9:17). Ananias called this man, who he knew had done evil, “brother,” and did an act of service for him, obeying God’s call to serve despite his fear of what might happen to him. God used Ananias’ faith to minister to Saul, a murderer, who later became Paul, an apostle of Jesus who spread the gospel fearlessly and wrote 13 books of the New Testament.

Friends, may we likewise serve and love without fear. May we all follow Jesus in loving others and serving God with grateful hearts. Amen!

“Then Jesus said to him, ‘Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve“‘” (Matthew 4:10).

“even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many‘” (Matthew 20:28).

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I am amazed when I look back on how much God has done in the last year. Today I was reminded that the focus of my attention is too often on the “things” that I think will make my life better. Things like peace and joy are things that I often pray to experience, as I imagine they themselves would improve my own life. But I was convicted today that actually, the goal isn’t to experience the peace or the joy, but God Himself.

What if God Himself was our goal? What if we yearned for His Presence more than we yearn for the fruits of the spirit? Friends, God is the goal. Knowing God, being with Him in worship and prayer, and experiencing life in relationship with Him is just starting to describe the level of intimacy with Him that He desires to have with each one of us. This relational experience of God goes far beyond improving life—it IS life.

2025 has been a year of a lot of change for me. I’ve changed my vision for the future, expectations, rhythm of life, and even church. It’s been very difficult to adapt and yet wonderfully positive and life-giving. It’s been a challenging year of learning how to truly come to Jesus for rest (Matthew 11:28). “Surrender” has been the key word of my year. I would be led back to it no matter what the situation was or the state of my heart. I had to surrender control to God in order to move forward, time and time again. It was new, it was difficult, it was harder than it seemed and not what I thought it meant when I was newer in my faith. And it’s something I’ll be doing for the rest of my life. Surrender is so important to having a relational experience of God; it made up a lot of our back-and-forth conversations in 2025. I had to stop grasping at surrender; instead I had to let go.

This year, I’ve developed the perspective that letting go is the most courageous thing someone can do in their life. It’s also a tangible, practical way of trusting God instead of relying on self. But letting go isn’t weak or lazy, not at all. It’s powerful. It’s the way of true power and abundant life. Paul wrote, “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7). Paul was one who God chose to let go of his life of Jewish religious prestige and share the message of Jesus with many parts of the world that hadn’t heard it yet. Paul (then Saul) experienced Jesus in a way that caused him to repent, and he let go of the life he was living. He trusted the path that Jesus set him on instead (Acts 9:6 & 9:17-20). By God’s gracious love, we are able to do the same in our own lives today.

God Himself—seeking Him, living in His Presence, and being in His will out of reverence and trust in Him—that is what I’m calling the December goal. It’s the goal that can’t wait until January when everyone remembers to make life improvement lists. The December goal is the only goal we need to focus on, every day. It’s the only one we need, the life itself, yet it so easily can get overlooked, somehow. Seeking God, rather than His gifts, is the goal I want to have today and every day. Jesus said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). Gifts will follow, and can’t be the focus when we follow God wholeheartedly. Like the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 13:44), Jesus is worth all we have. In Him is the only place to find everything we yearn for. Jesus deserves it all, He gave it all for us.

If you’re reading this, and you haven’t surrendered to Jesus, don’t wait until January 1st. Don’t wait until tomorrow. It’s something that right here and now, in December, will be the only thing that truly, eternally, satisfies your soul. We were each made for a special, unique relationship with Him; let go of anything holding you back and give Him the control of your life. It’s hard, but don’t give up! Jesus is waiting, right now, to hear from you. Tell Him your struggles, your laments, your hopes, and expectations. He longs to hear your heart. He is worth your all.

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us)” (Matthew 1:23).

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7).

“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

Tag: Acts 9

A Heart to Serve

The December Goal