Don't be Used to do Another's Bidding
- Baptist Daily Devotional
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
Rev. Tetteh-Annor Larbi | May 19 2025 | Acts 9:1-2
KEY VERSE: “Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way… he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem." Acts 9:1-2 (NIV)
MESSAGE:
Before his dramatic conversion, Saul was zealously committed to the cause of the religious leaders who opposed Jesus. He believed he was serving God, but in truth, he was carrying out the agenda of those who rejected the Messiah. Though passionate and sincere, his actions were rooted in error, driven by human authority rather than divine direction. This serves as a warning: it is possible to be zealous yet entirely misled. Today’s devotional calls us to slow down, examine our motivations, and ask, am I doing what God desires, or am I just fulfilling someone else’s agenda?
In a world full of pressure—social, religious, cultural - it’s easy to confuse God’s will with the loudest voices around us. Saul didn’t question the orders he received because they aligned with his upbringing and environment. But this is a time to step back and ask hard questions: Who influences my decisions? Am I following truth or tradition? Am I being used to serve a purpose that isn’t God's? These reflections lead us to repentance and redirection, just as they did for Saul on the road to Damascus.
God eventually interrupted Saul’s journey with a blinding light and a convicting voice. We are offered a similar opportunity—not through dramatic visions, but through quiet conviction. When we humble ourselves before God, He shows us where we’ve strayed and gently calls us back to His path. We must be willing to stop, listen, and realign ourselves with the voice of Christ rather than the demands of others.
FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:
Take a step back, stop, and reconsider your actions and opinions. What motivates them? Are you doing God’s bidding, or you are in the shadows of executing someone’s agenda? Realign and seek God’s will, and act now.
PRAYER:
Lord, help me to see clearly whose voice I’m following. If I’m being used for purposes that are not Yours, open my eyes and redirect my steps. I want to do Your will, not simply please others. Lead me into truth and obedience.” For your dear name’s sake. Amen.
THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!
The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 139: 1 Samuel 1 - Hannah’s Prayer and Samuel’s Birth
DAILY word study: BREATHING
The Greek word for breathing used in Acts 9:1 is empneō, which means “to breathe in or out.” It is used figuratively in this verse to show that Saul lived and moved in threat and violence, breathing it in deeply and breathing it out through his actions.
This word paints a vivid picture—Saul wasn’t just speaking threats. He lived and breathed them. The air he took in and pushed out carried hostility toward Jesus's disciples. His zeal was full-bodied and constant, yet it had no divine approval.
Reflection:
Be mindful of what fills your inner life. What you breathe out in action often reveals what you’ve taken in from influence and conviction. Ask: Am I filled with the Spirit—or with someone else’s voice?
Comments