Harry Bettig reads an interesting letter from a TWR Arabic listener on today's Footsteps.  The listener writes, "Because of my Muslim heritage, I'm hesitant to approach and accept Jesus as Lord, but I'm asking God to force me, if He must, to become a believer in Christ."  I'm sure that there are those who will hear this man's comments and immediately say, "But God is a gentleman, He never forces anyone to accept Jesus as Savior."  I've heard a number of people make that exact claim.  Well, let me remind you of the conversion of the apostle Paul (formerly called Saul): 

"Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them in shackles to Jerusalem.  Now as he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and 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 He said, 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, but get up and enter the city, and it will be told to you what you must do.'” (Acts 9:1-6, NASB)

Think about it.  Saul (later Paul) was not seeking Jesus.  He was persecuting Jesus!  But as Saul was hunting Christians, Jesus stopped Saul in his tracks, struck him down to the ground, made it obviously clear who He was, and then sent this new disciple along his way with a specific assignment.  The Lord didn't gently ask Saul if he would like to follow Him.  I would say that Jesus acted sovereignly and forcefully.

Now, knowing the story of Paul, let's again consider this TWR listener's plea.  Please join me in praying that our Lord Jesus would make Himself known to this Muslim man in a bold, powerful, and forceful way.  Amen. 

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(Photo of TWR's Harry Bettig)