A Changed Life by the Message of the Cross

Scripture Acts 9:3-6 -  “And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 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. 6 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.”

II Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

Galatians 2:20 – “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

In Acts 9:3-4, Paul’s life was changed by the power of Christ.  Before we were saved, we were slaves to our sinful nature.  When we invited Jesus Christ into our lives, Christ’s power (Holy Spirit) came to live in our hearts.  We were placed in the body of Christ.  I Corinthians 12:13 -  “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”  

The woman at the well in Samaria’s live was changed by the living water – the message of Jesus Christ.  John 4:5-14 - Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. 7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. 8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) 9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. 10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. 11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? 12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? 13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. Her life was transformed, and she told others about the Messiah – Jesus Christ!  Many others believed on Jesus, and their lives were changed because of the woman’s testimony!
Now that our lives are being changed, let’s continue to tell others about our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ wherever we go!  Mark 16:15 – “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”  Each day as I pray, I ask the Lord to show me who to witness to and what to say. Please lead me and guide me Lord.  Matthew 28:19-20 -  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. People need the Lord.  It is our responsibility to tell this dying world about Jesus the Christ before it is too late.  Time is running out.  

Prayer:  Thank You Lord for saving me and changing my life.  Please give me what to say as I share the “good news”.  Thank You for leading/guiding me.  All this I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

(by Marsha Williams)