A Passionate U-Turn

[S] Acts 22:6-7 --
 ⁶"But it happened that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus about noontime, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me,
 ⁷and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?'

[O] From the verses leading up to this passage we can see what Saul did to "passionately" persecuted the Christians and how he lived his life zealously (v. 3) to live for God in his own way.  The word, "but" in v. 6 signals the turning point in his current way of life because out of His love toward all of us including Saul, He took the initiative to reach out to Saul in that form of a bright light from heaven.  Likewise, turning points in my life are marked by God's reaching out to me even when I'm happily veering off in the opposite direction whether I intended to or not.  This is when God gives me an opportunity to turn around recognizing His amazing grace and love.  In v. 7, did He really have to ask that question to Saul?  No, Jesus already knew the answer but His question provided the chance for Saul to respond and make his U-turn toward His warm-welcoming arms.  This question reminds me of when God asked Adam and Eve in Genesis 3:9 -- Then the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, "Where are you?"  Again, He already knew the answer but in this question is the opportunity for Adam and Eve to make that U-turn (which they didn't).  Saul, did make the U-turn and through his life forward, God did mighty works.

[A] When (not if) I am faced with God's gracious question of invitation into His grace and love, stay humble and make the U-turn into His bosom and rest there.  I am bound to veer off repeatedly no matter how hard I try not to just like a sheep, so need to be sensitive to His invitation to my turning points in life and respond humbly to align myself in order to take part in greater projects He has for me.

[P] Dear God, I know You will continuously signal me to make those U-turns in my life so I thank You in advance and desire to stay humble to Your callings to make necessary adjustments in my own life. I desire to be used by You in each phases of my spiritual maturity.  I am also thankful for the brothers in my small group to begin sharing our devotions to allow greater accountability for each others growth.  Please honor our commitments by showing Your wonderful presence in the midst of us.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.