"Spiritual DNA!"

Acts 7:58-60       (KJV)
"And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was "SAUL".  And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.  And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep."

GOD has been demonstrating to me just how HE works in our lives, even YEARS in advance, to accomplish HIS plan for our lives.  Saul was present when Stephen was stoned to death.  How could anybody see any good coming out of that?  Stephen was a humble, obedient servant of the Kingdom of GOD.  Scripture records in verse 55 of Acts 7, that JESUS HIMSELF even STOOD UP when Stephen was stoned!  In Acts 8 Saul continued to torture and persecute the church (body of CHRIST).

GOD uses the prior experiences of our lifetime to form our "Spiritual DNA"!  Who we are today is a result of the experiences we have had previously.  Who we will be in the future will be a reflection of the experiences we deal with today.

Saul had to experience the "Damascus Road" in order for GOD to accomplish HIS plan for Saul's life.  In Acts 9:4-6 scripture records "And he (Saul) fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 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.  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."

In Acts 13, Saul began to be known as PAUL!  His name was changed, just like his life was changed.  He became one of the most dedicated and effective disciples of Christ recorded in scripture.  GOD used him to write a lot of the New Testament.  I am not sure I would have wanted to travel the road GOD laid out for Paul.  But GOD has a plan for my life just as HE did for Paul's life.  We have to live by "FAITH" and trust GOD for the direction in our lives.

As GOD used the death of Stephen to mold Saul into Paul, HE can use the circumstances in my life to mold me into the man HE can use for HIS glory!  I pray my "Spiritual DNA" will be found to be very similar to that of JESUS!