Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that, if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains. On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" He said, "Who are you, sir?" The reply came, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do." The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could see no one. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus. For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank. There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." He answered, "Here I am, Lord." The Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight and ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is there praying, and (in a vision) he has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay (his) hands on him, that he may regain his sight." But Ananias replied, "Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man, what evil things he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call upon your name." But the Lord said to him, "Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and Israelites, and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name." So Ananias went and entered the house; laying his hands on him, he said, "Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came, that you may regain your sight and be filled with the holy Spirit." Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized, and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength. He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus, and he began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

You know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

—1 Peter 1:18-19

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

If value is determined by price, we are incredibly valuable to God. Our Father took the most precious treasure of heaven and redeemed us out of sin, evil, and death to adopt us into his family through Jesus' sacrifice. Silver and gold pale in comparison to that value. Without this redemption, we were in a mess. We were trapped in "the empty way of life handed down to us". To know the depth of that empty way of life, we need to remember who we were before Christ (Ephesians 2:1-3; Romans 5:6):

• Dead in our transgressions and sins.
• Following the ways of the evil ruler of the spiritual realm, who is at work among the disobedient.
• Gratifying the cravings of our flesh.
• By nature deserving of God's wrath.
• Powerless and ungodly sinners living as enemies of God.

But God chose to redeem us in love through "the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." Now that we are redeemed, Christ presents us to God as "holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation" (Colossians 1:22). We are redeemed, bought out of our slavery to the emptiness of the sinful life the world chooses. So, dear brothers and sisters, let's live as who God has made us to be: valuable and precious to our Father!

Video Commentary...

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My Prayer...

Holy God, may I live each day more aware of my inestimable value to you. May my words, thoughts, and actions be permeated with your sense of my worth and not my regrets for a past life wasted on the empty ways of the world; not so that I might seem important to others, but so that I might display your holiness and righteous character in my life, bringing glory to you for the incredible gift of grace in Jesus. Through whom I pray. Amen.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel.

—Proverbs 15:18

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Ⓒ 1996-2026 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent.

Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart's desires. Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.

—Psalm 37:4-6

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Ⓒ 1996-2026 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent.

When the people saw [Jesus perform the miraculous sign of feeding more than 5,000], they exclaimed, "Surely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting!"

—John 6:14 NLT

Key Thought

The people were "wowed"! They recognized something incredible had happened. When they first saw the miraculous sign, they were convinced that something great was going on. But their reaction didn't last long as this was the "miracle on demand" crowd. ^[1] Unfortunately, they let their praises die down and their desire to see another "miracle show" rev up.

God still does mighty things among us today. When he does them, let's praise him. Even when we endure a season where he doesn't appear to be working, let's remember that he is still at work even if the things he does remain unseen. Let's be drawn closer to him - not to see another mighty deed, but to give him our hearts. The mighty deeds will come in God's time, not ours. So instead of focusing on our expectations, let's focus on God's incredible work among us!

Today's Prayer

Father, thank you for your mighty deeds throughout history. Thank you for your mighty deeds in my life as well. I can see only an incredibly small glimpse of all that you have done, and yet I am awe-struck, and I praise you. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

• Mark 15:33-39
• Luke 7:11-16
• Matthew 16:13-16

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Ⓒ 1996-2026 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.