Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Vision (08/03/06)
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TITLE: SMALL WONDER | Previous Challenge Entry
By DEGNA HORTON
08/09/06 -
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A Citizen of Rome,
An educated intellectual
Being groomed for the Pharisitical Throne.
He had to prove His commitment
To his religious sect was strong,
For they were the righteous elected
And these Jesus freaks were wrong.
With conviction he led Stephen’s stoning
Unto his martyred fate.
He had to get these heretics
Before it was too late.
How dare they publicly testify
About the Way of the Christ!
“I will not rest until they’re all dead.
That simply won’t suffice!”
With purpose and with passion
He mounted his fine steed.
“I’ve got to kill those converts!”
He violently decreed.
Blinded by his hatred
That urged him on like a goad,
Was when he encountered the Living God
Upon that Damascus road.
With sight he entered the encounter
But was blinded by the Light.
And when Jesus spoke to him,
He received true spiritual sight.
“Saul, why do you persecute Me?"
Christ’s question pierced his heart.
“Arise and go into the city
For I’ve chosen to set you apart?”
Dismayed and somewhat terrified,
Saul fell off his horse.
As the Light denied him physical sight
His life’s vision radically changed course.
Saul rose to his feet as instructed
But his opened eyes could no longer see.
His companions led him by the hand
To the home of Judas on Straight Street.
For three days the darkness consumed him.
He could eat or drink not a thing.
All he could do was think and pray
And a vision the Lord did bring.
In this vision the Lord revealed to him
That his sight would be restored
Through a man named Ananias,
A committed follower of the Lord.
The Lord also spoke to Ananias
In a vision he too received;
That he was to pray for the man they called Saul
So that he too would believe.
With trepidation Ananias objected
But the Lord reassured him with His command.
“This Saul is my chosen vessel
Who will carry my name throughout the land.”
“Brother Saul!” Ananais obediently cried out,
“ Jesus has sent me so you may see.
Now be filled with His Holy Spirit.”
The blinding scales fell immediately.
It was in this state of darkness
That true vision came Saul’s way.
He died to his world as he knew it
When salvation came to him that day.
With great fervor and a new commission,
Saul immediately began to preach
That Jesus was indeed the Son of God
And the Gentiles he would reach.
But new vision was not all the Lord gave him.
His name was changed from Saul
To a name that means “small” or “little.”
He was now to be called Paul.
But the missions assigned to this great apostle
Were anything but small.
He impacted this world for Jesus Christ,
Unto his death he gave his ALL.
For in life we all need VISION.
Without it we would surely fade away.
And heart is the path to vision
When a Holy Visitation comes your way.
God’s call must first be answered;
Then passion will fill the heart;
And vision is birthed through this passion
As the Holy Spirit sets you apart.
Ironically, Paul the Apostle,
Was in stature a small man
Whose life was no small wonder,
As he surrendered it to Jesus’s plan.
If you too desire God’s vision
To radically change your life in every way,
I call forth a Holy Visitation ...
May you encounter Jesus Christ TODAY.
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