"And God's Response Is ..."

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; and I ordained you a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah 1:5

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you." Jeremiah 29:11-12

Both these verses are used often to inspire and encourage men and women in the service of our God. Both are used often to relay the idea that God knows you and has a calling on your life. As I was reading in the books of Acts today they both came to mind as the scene played out to reveal just how amazingly true they are. Don't believe me? Check out the scene below and you'll see for yourself. He knows and He does have a plan!

   Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
   And as he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him in heaven.
   Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"
   And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" And the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads."
   So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" And the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
   And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one.
   Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.
   And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
   Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord."
   So the Lord said to him, "Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying.
   And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight."
   Then Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.
   And here he has authority from all the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name."
   But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel, for I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake."
   And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
   Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.
   And when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus. Acts 9:1-19

As you can see even before Saul became Paul the Apostle He knew him. He knew who and what he was about, was persecuting those that served Him. He also knew that He had a plan for him; and that his calling would really begin the moment he truly encountered Him as Lord. He knew that from that moment on Saul would be stepping into the future and the hope that He set before him.

My favorite part of this whole encounter is the moment when Ananias is telling God that Saul is the bad guy (Then Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from all the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.")  and God's response is ... (But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel, for I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake.") God knows his plans for us! He knows us as chosen vessels!  Ananias was looking at Saul, based on his actions of the past. There are people all around us that just see the things we have been in the past. But here is the thing ... God sees us for who we are in the future. The future that He opens up to us the moment we truly encounter Him, as Lord.

Remember ...He knows you! He knows the plans He has for you and He has set your future before you! You are His chosen vessel and those thoughts He thinks about you, started before you were even born!