God does not wait for people to be eloquent, young, or naturally gifted before calling them into His service; instead, He equips and empowers those He calls, regardless of their perceived inadequacies or limitations. Even when we feel unworthy or ill-equipped, God’s grace is sufficient, and His strength is made perfect in our weakness. He delights in using ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things, reminding us that our confidence should rest in Him, not in ourselves. [32:59]
1 Corinthians 1:26-29 (ESV)
For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.
Reflection: What is one area where you feel unqualified or inadequate to serve God, and how might you step out in faith this week, trusting Him to equip you for that calling?
No one is beyond the reach of God’s mercy; even those who seem most opposed to the Gospel, like Paul, can be radically transformed by a personal encounter with Jesus. God’s plan is at work in every story, and He can turn a persecutor into a preacher, a skeptic into a servant. We should never give up praying for or sharing with those who seem far from God, for His grace is powerful enough to break through any resistance and bring about true change. [44:30]
Acts 9:3-5 (ESV)
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.”
Reflection: Who in your life seems farthest from God, and how can you intentionally pray for their transformation and look for opportunities to share Christ’s love with them?
God’s heart is to seek and save the lost, regardless of status, background, or past; He orchestrates events and appointments so that everyone, from kings to commoners, has the opportunity to hear and respond to the Gospel. He shows no favoritism and desires that all people come to the knowledge of the truth, calling us to pray for and reach out to everyone, including those in authority and even our enemies. [55:28]
1 Timothy 2:1-4 (ESV)
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Reflection: Is there someone you have overlooked or written off as unreachable? How can you pray for them and show them God’s love this week, regardless of their background or position?
A genuine relationship with Jesus is not just about professing faith with words but is demonstrated by a life of obedience, submission, and transformation; empty words without change are not enough. Jesus calls us to make Him not only our Savior but also our Lord, surrendering every area of our lives to His authority. The evidence of true salvation is a life that reflects Christ’s character, values, and priorities, even when it is inconvenient or costly. [01:05:11]
James 2:17 (ESV)
So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Reflection: In what specific area of your life do your actions not yet reflect your professed faith in Jesus as Lord, and what step can you take today to align your life more fully with His will?
Life is unpredictable, and the opportunity to respond to God’s call is not guaranteed forever; procrastination, pride, or attachment to worldly things can cause us to miss the gift of salvation. Like King Agrippa and Felix, many hear the truth but delay or walk away, while others, like Paul, surrender and receive eternal life. The invitation to follow Jesus is a package deal—He demands total commitment, and the time to respond is now, not later. [01:07:40]
2 Corinthians 6:2 (ESV)
For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
Reflection: What is holding you back from fully surrendering to Jesus today, and how can you take a concrete step right now to respond to His invitation?
This morning, we reflected on the profound difference between two men who encountered the truth of the Gospel: Paul and King Agrippa. Both were deeply religious, knowledgeable, and influential, yet their responses to God’s invitation could not have been more different. Paul, once a zealous persecutor of Christians, was radically transformed by a direct encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. His entire worldview, shaped by strict adherence to tradition and law, was upended in a moment of divine intervention. Paul’s story reminds us that no one is beyond the reach of God’s grace, and that even the hardest hearts can be softened and redirected for God’s purposes.
In contrast, King Agrippa, though well-versed in Jewish customs and the teachings of the prophets, chose to walk away from the invitation to faith. Despite hearing the Gospel clearly and feeling its weight, he allowed status, pride, or perhaps the comfort of his current life to keep him from surrendering to Christ. His story is a sobering reminder that proximity to truth and religious knowledge do not guarantee transformation. The heart’s response is what matters.
We also considered the sovereignty of God in orchestrating opportunities for salvation. Paul’s journey—from persecutor to preacher, from Jerusalem to Caesarea, and finally to a divine appointment with Agrippa—was not a series of accidents, but the unfolding of God’s plan. God’s desire is for all people, regardless of background or status, to come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved. This includes those we might least expect, and it challenges us to persevere in sharing our faith, even when we face resistance or indifference.
Ultimately, the evidence of true salvation is not a mere profession of faith, but a transformed life marked by obedience and submission to Jesus as Lord. The invitation to follow Christ is not partial; it demands our whole being—our thoughts, words, and actions. Each of us must decide how we will respond. Will we, like Paul, surrender everything for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ, or will we, like Agrippa, walk away unchanged?
Acts 9:1-6 (ESV) — > 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.”
2. Acts 26:27-29 (ESV)
> “King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?” And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.”
3. Philippians 3:7-8 (ESV)
> But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.
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