Increasing in strength

and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Acts 9:19 NIV

But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ. Acts 9:22 ESV

Again there is so much in this chapter. There are five accounts of God taking a bad situation and turning it around for good. Saul, from foe to faith, and from blind to baptised. The believers in Jerusalem, from fear to fellowship. And the raising up of two of the believers. One from eight years of paralysis and the other from death!

But once again it was a small detail rather than the broad brushstrokes that caught my attention. Saul recovered his strength by eating food, but grew in strength by doing the will of God!

It reminds me of what Jesus said, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work." (John 4:34)

We are strengthened by food, but strengthened "all the more" by living in the will of God.

[Originally posted to Facebook 11/02/18]