August 9 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Acts 9:8–12

Devotional

Did Ananias hear the Lord correctly? Does the Lord say, “Behold, he prayeth” of Saul, the persecutor of God’s church? If the Lord Himself had not said this, then truly it would not be believed. What a change this is! Saul, the ravenous wolf, has been changed into a meek lamb. He is now a supplicant before God’s throne of grace.

The previous day it was still, “Behold, he persecuteth.” He cursed and breathed threats against the church of God. And now it is, “Behold, he prayeth.” The one who continually cursed has been changed into one who prays. That is because the exalted King became too strong for him.

When God becomes too strong for a man, that man will fall on his knees in the dust. And he does not desire any other place anymore. Whatever happened in the past, he now is a petitioner on his knees before God’s throne. He begs God for a crumb of grace. Those who are confronted by God are changed, and instead of swearing they will be found praying. Clenched fists are turned into praying hands.

How often do you think that Saul prayed? For after all he was a Pharisee and he thought he was doing God a great favor when he, as a roaring lion, was tearing the lambs of Christ in pieces. How often would he have stood in prayer before God in the temple, thinking that he was doing God a great service? He thought that by his prayers he could please God. But now, here in our text, we see that Paul was truly praying, for now he has become before God what he always had been: a godless man with a vile, self-made piety.

Please pay close attention to our text. We do not read, “Behold, he is one of the elect.” Neither do we read, “Behold, he is born again.” Nor do we read, “He is converted.” All this would have been true, but the issue at hand is that the tree is known by its fruit. Prayer is the heartbeat of true spiritual life. Some people want to be one of the elect; they want to be born again or converted. But man always reaches too high. He starts too high. Would it not be better to start considering the fruit and to ask ourselves if we have become as those who pray?

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.