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Turning Darkness into Light: God’s Call for
Us
by Merna Dabbagh
“I am sending you to them to open their
eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power
of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins
and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”
Acts 26:17b-18
Good evening, everybody! I’m so excited
to share this message with you today because it connects
perfectly to something my friends and I have been doing
lately. A group of us (you know u are!) decided to challenge
ourselves to read one chapter of Acts every single day until
we finish the whole book by the end of January. Let me tell
you, it’s been a journey—some chapters have blown my mind,
while others made me scratch my head a little. But every
single day, God’s been teaching us something new, and it’s
been so great to see all of their responses and what they
thought about it. It’s truly so motivating to do these types
of stuff with friends.
Today, we’re going to talk about the
powerful words in Acts 26:17-18, where Paul is recounting what
Jesus told him: “I will rescue you from your own people and
from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes
and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of
Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and
a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” Isn’t
that just powerful? It’s like Jesus giving Paul (and us) a
giant, neon-highlighted mission. Let’s break it down together
and see how it applies to our lives.
God's power to rescue
Jesus starts by saying, “I will rescue
you”. That’s a big promise! Paul’s story shows us how real
that promise is. He was once chasing down Christians,
convinced he was doing the right thing. Then BOOM—God shows
up, blinds him with light, and completely turns his whole life
around.
But this isn’t just about physical
rescue. God also rescues us from things like guilt, fear, bad
decisions, and even those moments when we feel completely
lost. Have you ever been in a situation where you thought,
“There’s no way out of this”—and then God showed up? That was
the story for many people living at the time.
Matthew 5:3-6 says, “Blessed are the
poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed
are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are
the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those
who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be
filled.”
After Paul’s conversion and after he
regained his sight, he looked at the churches around him and
saw how distant they were from God’s path. In response, he
wrote letters—lots of them—talking about God’s love and grace.
In Romans 12:1, Paul says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers
and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a
living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true
and proper worship.”
Paul is urging us to live in such a way
that we carry the altar with us, living as a sacrificial
offering to the Lord. This ties back to what Jesus taught His
disciples. In Luke 9:23, Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my
disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily
and follow me.”
What does this mean? It means we
shouldn’t conform to the patterns of this world. Instead, we
should be transformed, allowing our minds to be constantly
renewed in Christ. We’re called to live in His light and
salvation and to walk in humility.
Humility doesn’t mean showing off or
drawing attention to ourselves. Instead, it’s about being
devout Christians who follow Jesus sincerely. Think about
Paul. He was persecuting Christians everywhere, yet God still
revealed Himself to him. That encounter blinded Paul, but it
also transformed him. God brought him into the light, showed
him salvation, and set him on the right path.
We need to humble ourselves. The world
often encourages us to think, “I’m better or more important
than others.” But Christianity flips that mindset and asks,
“How can I think about others? How can I treat everyone as
equal?”
The answer is simple: we put our faith
in God and trust in His actions. We live selflessly, believing
that our good deeds, done with humility, can inspire others to
change. It’s not about expecting something in return. As Jesus
taught, “When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand
know what your right hand is doing.”
Keep being a good person—not for
recognition, but because it’s the right thing to do. When we
live this way, we reflect God’s love and light to the world.
A mission with a purpose
Next, Jesus says, “I am sending you to
them”. Hold up—you mean the people Paul used to fight against?
Yep. That’s classic God for you: taking our weaknesses and
turning them into strengths. When God rescues us, he gives us
a mission. He doesn’t save us so we can stay the same. He
saves us so we can make a difference. Paul’s mission was to go
to both Jews and non-Jews to help them see the truth about
Jesus.
Guess what? This mission isn’t just for
Paul. Jesus gave us all the same job in Matthew 28:19-20: “Go
and make disciples of all nations.” But before you freak out,
thinking you need to preach on the street corners, let's make
it simple. Sharing the Gospel isn’t only about preaching or
having all the right words to say—it’s often supported by
showing God’s love through your actions. Those actions could
look like being a good friend, someone who listens, supports,
and is there when others need you most. They might look like
standing up for someone who feels overlooked or defending
someone who is being treated unfairly, even if it’s not the
popular thing to do. Sometimes, it’s as simple as choosing
kindness, even in situations where it’s easier to respond with
anger, impatience, or indifference. When we reflect the love
and grace of Jesus in how we treat others, we are sharing the
Gospel in a way that goes beyond words. It shows people what
God’s love looks like in real life, and that can be a powerful
testimony.
But let’s not sugarcoat it—living out
this mission isn’t always easy. Sometimes, we’re afraid of
what people might think or say. Other times, we might feel
like we’re not qualified enough to share God’s Word. But
here’s the thing: God doesn’t call the equipped; He equips the
called. Just like He transformed Paul from a persecutor of
Christians into a missionary, He can use you, no matter where
you are in life.
Your mission might look different from
Paul’s, but it's just as important. Maybe you’re called to
reach out to someone who feels invisible. Maybe you’re bring
asked to stand up for what’s right, even if it's unpopular.
Whatever it is, trust that God has placed you in this moment
for a reason. You are part of his bigger plan to bring light
to the world. So, here’s a fun challenge for you: think about
one person (or multiple if you’d like!) in your life who might
need a little hope or encouragement. How can you show God’s
love to them this week?
Turning Darkness into Light
Jesus told Paul to “turn them from
darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God”. Woah,
that’s some serious business. Darkness represents everything
that pulls us away from God—fear, sin, lies--while light
represents God's presence, truth, love, and grace.
Think about how light works. Even a
small light can brighten a dark room. Jesus said in John 8:12
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never
walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” When we
share Jesus with others, we are inviting them to step out of
the darkness into God’s light.
But turning from darkness to light
isn’t a one-time thing. It’s a journey. It takes courage to
let go of old habits, doubts, or fears and step into the life
God has for us. Paul’s transformation was dramatic, but for
many of us, it happens little by little. Each day, we have a
choice to live in the light of Christ or remain in the
shadows.
And here’s the incredible part: When
you live in God's light, it's contagious! People notice. They
see the way you treat others, the way you handle challenges,
and the joy you carry, even in tough times. Your life becomes
a representation and reflection of God’s love, and that’s what
draws people in.
The enemy’s power is real, and it’s
easy to feel overwhelmed by the darkness in the world. But
don’t forget: God's light is stronger. He calls us to be his
hands and feet, bringing hope to those who need it most.
The Gift of Forgiveness
God’s mission is about helping people
“receive forgiveness of sins”. Forgiveness is the heart of the
Gospel. Jesus died on the cross so that we can be forgiven and
have a relationship with God. But forgiveness isn’t just about
what we receive, it's also what we give.
Romans 3:23 reminds us “For all have
sinned and fall short of the glory of God” That’s every single
one of us. None of us are perfect. But the good news is found
in 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just
and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all
unrighteousness” God's forgiveness is a gift we could never
earn. It’s his grace, freely given, because he loves us.
Accepting forgiveness is the first
step, but it doesn’t stop there. Jesus calls us to forgive
others just as we’ve been forgiven. That’s not always easy.
Sometimes, we hold on to grudges or feel like someone doesn’t
deserve our forgiveness. But here’s the truth: forgiveness is
more about setting yourself free than letting someone else off
the hook. When we forgive, we release the bitterness and anger
that can weigh us down.
Think about someone you need to
forgive. Maybe its a friend who let you down, a family member
who hurt you, or even yourself. Take that to God. Ask him to
help you let go of the pain and choose forgiveness. Remember,
forgiveness reflects God’s love. When we forgive, we show
others the same grace God has shown us.
Forgiveness also opens the door to
healing and reconciliation. It allows relationships to be
restored, and hearts be mended. Don’t underestimate the power
of saying, “I forgive you”. It could be the first step in
transforming someone’s life—including your own.
A Place Among God’s People
God promises, “a place among those who
are sanctified by faith in me”. Sanctification means be set
apart for God. It’s not something we do by ourselves; the Holy
Spirit helps us grow closer to God.
When we believe in Jesus, we get a new
Identity/ We are no longer defined by our mistakes or
failures. We are God’s children, part of His family. Ephesians
2:19 says “You are no longer foreigners and strangers, but
fellow citizens with God’s people and also member of his
household”.
This promise reminds us that we belong
to God. Even if we feel lonely or unworthy, God has made a
place for us. Let that truth encourage you as you live out
your faith.
Belonging to God’s family means we’re
never alone. We have a community of believers to support us,
encourage us, and help us grow. That’s why its so important to
stay connected—to pray together, worship together, and share
life together. When we come together as God's people, we
reflect his love and unity to the world.
So, embrace your place in God’s family.
Lean on your brothers and sisters in Christ/ Celebrate the joy
of being a part of something bigger than yourself. And
remember, you are loved, chosen, and called for a purpose.
Conclusion
Acts 26:17-18 reminds us of God’s
amazing grace and purpose for our lives. He rescues us, gives
us a mission, and calls us to share His light with others. He
offers forgiveness and gives us a place in His family.
How will you respond? Will you let God
use you to share His light and love? Will you take on the
mission He has for you?
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your Word and for the
incredible reminder of Your love and purpose for our lives.
Thank You for rescuing us from darkness and bringing us into
Your light. We are so grateful for the forgiveness You offer
and for the place You have prepared for each of us in Your
family.
Lord, we ask that You help us live out
the mission You’ve given us—to share Your love, to be a light
in the world, and to bring others closer to You. Give us
courage to step out in faith, humility to serve others, and
wisdom to follow the path You have set for us. Help us to
forgive as we have been forgiven, and to reflect Your grace in
all that we do.
We pray for those who are still
searching for the light, that their hearts may be opened and
their lives transformed by Your love. Use us, Lord, as
instruments of Your peace and hope.
As we leave here today, may we carry
Your light with us into our homes, our schools, and our
communities. May we live in a way that honors You and inspires
others to seek You.
In Jesus’ name, we pray and say Amen.
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