Paul is the writer of this passage. Paul had his eyes closed for three days so he might see with his heart. It took a face to face meeting with Jesus to truly open his eyes.
Acts 26:14-15 And falling on 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,” Jesus told Saul to get up and go to Damascus. Saul got up, his eyes were open but he could not see. He went three days without sight.
How many days have we gone without sight? Our eyes are open but we do not see God~Jesus. We go through the motions but we are not doing what God wants us to do. Paul was preaching and persecuting Christians in good faith. He believed he was doing God’s will. How many things are we doing that we believe is God’s will~~~but it turns out not to be?
How many times does Jesus come before us and we do not see Him but our eyes are wide open?
1 Timothy 1:15 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief. Are we just like Paul? Are we ignorant and unbelieving.
Jesus wants to rescue us just like He did Paul. Will we let Him open our eyes and heart? Acts 26:17-18 Jesus tells Paul why He rescued him, so he can go to the Jews and Gentiles, ‘to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion“ of satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’
Jesus has already paid the price for our hostage ransom. He died for our sins and He wants us to live for Him.
First: You shall love the Lord your God with all your soul and with all your mind, and with all your strength.
Second: John 15:10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His Love.
Third: Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
It is a free gift but we have to choose to accept it. The only way to get into Jesus Christ is to do what He tells us to do.
Mark 16:16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.
Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, Repent and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Do you see that there is a condition on this. If we are baptized then we will have forgiveness of sins and receive the gift….
I found at least 44 scriptures that mention baptism. Don’t you agree that baptism is critical? That is 44 scriptures that are life or death statements.
Galatians 3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. We have to be baptized into Christ to get into Him.
1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greek….
This may be the biggest step we have to take to have our eyes opened. There are many false teaching out there that contradict the word of God. My challenge is to seek the Word of God to see what He wants us to do. NOT the world’s view of what God wants, NOT man’s view of what God wants. I challenge you to look up all the scripture on Baptism-Baptized and do your own study. PM me is you have questions and I will be happy to study with you.
Or you may go to the link below to do your own bible study.
Jeremiah’s Prayer
Shelia's Notes 