Help Me Understand
Posted on August 31, 2017 by Graeme Wilson in Freedom Fighters
“But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.” – Acts 9:22
I adopted a saying that helps me when I’m confused about a certain situation: “Help me understand.” I picked it up from a good friend of mine and often use it when I’m in a conversation and confusion has set in. This term helps the person I’m talking to realize I have no idea what they’re talking about. There are times when I have confusion and need to be better oriented about a subject before I can understand.
If you have ever tried to talk to someone about Jesus, you probably have found yourself trying to explain to someone who is very confused. For an unbeliever, it as if you’re talking a different language. In the book of Acts, we see God initiating a relationship with a number of people and He had established a group of followers that had moved from confusion to being convinced. The church in Acts is a fine oiled machine that has been empowered by the Spirit of God to either convince or confuse.
In chapter 9, we open with the conversion of Saul. He very quickly is convinced that the road he was traveling was the wrong path. He is confronted with Jesus on the road to Damascus and quickly after a short conversation Jesus “helps him understand.”
After that, Ananias is moved from confusion to being convinced that he was to go into Saul and lay hands on him. There is a common response by both Saul and Ananias in this account, Paul says in verse 6, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Ananias’ response is similar in verse 10 when called by God, And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”
There is a sharp contrast to those who remain confused and those who have moved from confusion to being convinced. I find in my life when I am confused, I have two choices: trust God and move to being convinced, or remain in a state of confusion and allow myself to be tossed like a wave.
In verse 22, we see Saul dealing with the Jews who remain in confusion and the outcome in verse 23 was to kill Saul.
I believe when I am in a state of confusion I can come to the Word of God and even though I may not fully understand, I can be convinced of His faithfulness and trust Him. This account in chapter 9 separates those who believe from those who doubt. Doubters remain in confusion while believers move to being convinced.
We see that when the churches were convinced in verse 31, “Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied”.
Where are you today? Are you convinced or still have doubts? Let the Word of God “Help you understand” and move to being convinced. Amen!
Written by Rob Russomano: Rob Russomano is married to Terri, he is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a full time staff member. He is also available as a speaker of the grace of God with a message of Hope for church events. You can contact him at rrussomano@americaskeswick.org.
The Daily Bible Reading: Proverbs 19| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here
Daily Quote: “Jesus was God spelling himself out in language humanity could understand.” – S.D. Gordon
This Week’s Verse to Memorize:
“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” James 5:16-7
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