And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. (Acts 9:3-6)
Up to this point in Acts, Saul had been an enemy of the church. He was violently arresting Christians, taking everything from them, and doing so legally with the approval of the community leaders. However, despite the depth of evil that gripped him, God still had a plan for Saul’s life.
The church was, without a doubt, praying during this time of persecution. Specifically, they were praying for the opposition leader and calling out his name in prayer. The incident recorded in Acts 9 was likely in answer to the prayers of the church.
During this encounter near Damascus, God showed Saul His glory; Saul fell to the earth, and God called him by name. God has called us all by name; however, whether we respond or not is up to us. Saul, on the ground, shocked and blind, answered back with an immediate question: “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” Saul acknowledged that Jesus was Lord when he addressed Him that way. Then, Paul agreed to God’s call and to do whatever it took.
Do you respond the same way when God speaks or shows up in your life unexpectedly? We must embrace God’s "unexpected moments” and respond to His call with a, “Yes, Lord.” We must know He plans to bring about His will, even when we don’t see it coming.
Practical Application
When God speaks, we should have a “Yes, Lord” ready on our lips to obey Him fully, even when we don’t understand completely. Follow God’s instructions, even when the path is not clear, having faith that He will guide you step by step.