God is a Person: One Year Bible Reading for June 13

Today we read from the One Year Bible in these verses:

1 Kings 11:1-12:19
Acts 9:1-25
Psalm 131:1-3
Proverbs 17:4-5

Let's look at Acts. We see something strange here. God seems to violate someone's free will! Think about it. Saul was dead set on persecuting Christians. He was on his way with an order from the court to arrest any Christians he found and put them to death. On the way, God knocks him off his horse and says, "Why are you persecuting Me?" Not your normal conversion story, is it?

Now think about the thief on the cross. He tells the other thief being crucified with Jesus, "Don't bother Him. We deserve to die, but He hasn't done anything wrong. Jesus, remember me when you come into Your kingdom." And Jesus says something impossible and astounding. He says, "Today you will be with Me in paradise." Why is this impossible and astounding? Because He just got done a few pages ago telling His disciples that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees, you can't go to heaven. Did the thief on the cross exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees?

See, here's the thing. God is a person. And He deals with all of us a little differently. Think about a good, loving parent. Do they treat all of their kids the exact same way? No. They love them all and treat them all with kindness and fairness. But some they're a little harder on, and some they are gentler with. God deals with each of us in the way that we need the most. 

So trust Him. And seek His face. If you do that, I PROMISE that you will find Him. (I can make that promise because He made it first.)

God, thanks for dealing with each of us the way we need it the most.