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(KJV) Acts 9:15-16
15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
Chosen for the Gospel, Called to Suffer: Reflecting on Acts 9:15-16
When we think about the dramatic conversion of Saul on the road to Damascus, we often focus on the blinding light, the audible voice of Jesus, and the sudden transformation of Christianity’s fiercest persecutor into its greatest missionary. It is a breathtaking display of God’s sovereign grace. However, when the Lord speaks to Ananias about Saul’s future, He delivers a commission that challenges our modern definitions of blessing and success.
In Acts 9:15-16, the Lord says:
“Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”
Saul—who would become the Apostle Paul—was not just given a mandate to preach. He was given a mandate to suffer. In the economy of God’s kingdom, the call to bear the name of Christ is intimately tied to the call to suffer for His sake.
The Paradox of Suffering in the Kingdom
For many of us, suffering feels like a sign of God’s absence or displeasure. But Scripture flips this perspective upside down. In Christ’s kingdom, enduring hardship for the Gospel is actually a badge of honor and a sign of God’s highest favor.
Throughout the New Testament, we are reminded that trials are not a detour from God’s will; they are the path through it. Jesus told His disciples to rejoice when they faced persecution (Matthew 5:11-12), and Paul himself would later write that we are fellow heirs with Christ “provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him” (Romans 8:17).
Suffering strips away our self-reliance and forces us to depend entirely on the grace of God. It is often the very catalyst for a fruitful, deeply impactful ministry. Just as a grain of wheat must fall into the earth and die to bear fruit (John 12:24), our willingness to endure hardship allows God’s comfort and power to flow through us to a hurting world (2 Corinthians 1:3-6).
The Daily Reality of “Dying to Self”
While we may not all face physical persecution or chains like Paul did, every follower of Christ is called to a daily form of suffering: the process of “dying to self.”
Dying to self means actively rejecting our sinful impulses, our selfish ambitions, and our desire for comfort above obedience. It is a daily decision to make ourselves unresponsive to the lures of sin and fully alive to the prompts of the Holy Spirit (Romans 6:2-11). Paul described this internal crucifixion by stating plainly, “I die every day!” (1 Corinthians 15:31).
This daily surrender is not a morbid or hopeless exercise. When we empty ourselves, we make room to be filled. By dying to our own desires, we allow the vibrant, resurrection life of Jesus to flow through us. Our willing sacrifices become the visual aid of God’s love to the people around us, carrying the message of salvation to those who desperately need it.
Boundless Eternal Rewards
If the story ended with suffering, it would be tragic. But God promises that our light and momentary afflictions are preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. The hardships we endure today are directly linked to the crowns and rewards of heaven (2 Timothy 2:12).
Paul looked at his life of beatings, shipwrecks, imprisonments, and rejection, and still concluded that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us (Romans 8:18).
Are you facing hardship, opposition, or a painful season of self-denial for the sake of righteousness? Take heart. You are in good company. You are walking the same path as the “chosen instruments” who came before you, and your faithfulness is clearing the way for God’s power to move.
A Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the profound reminder that You choose ordinary, broken people to be Your instruments in this world. Lord, we confess that we often run from discomfort and fear suffering. We ask that You transform our perspective, just as You transformed Saul’s. Grant us the courage to boldly carry Your name, no matter the cost.
Help us to die to ourselves daily—to lay down our pride, our comfort, and our selfish ambitions so that Your resurrection life can shine clearly through us. When we face trials, persecutions, or the quiet pains of obedience, give us the grace to endure with joy, knowing that our suffering is never in vain. May our lives be a fruitful testament to Your love, and may You receive all the glory. In Jesus’ mighty name, we pray. Amen.
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