Principles from Acts Chapter 9

Accepting the Call: Acts 9:18-20 If the Lord calls us to the work, then we must immediately accept the call and go to work.
This is the story of Saul, the man who was going to bind all those who believed on Christ. He had a vision, where the Lord appears to him and Saul loses his sight. He fasts for three days until Ananias comes and restores his sight. He is then baptized and then verse twenty says, “And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.” This was a man who was actively trying to destroy the church, but then gains a testimony and immediately testifies to others of the truth. I think that we sometimes have a hard time fulfilling our callings in the church because we feel that we are not good enough, we don’t know enough, or that we don’t speak well enough. I’m sure that Saul felt inadequate and thought that no one would listen to him because he had opposed the church so actively. But Saul immediately goes to work. This shows that we need to have faith to act. If we try our best to fulfill the roles the Lord has given us, He will bless us to accomplish the things we need to.

Seeing others as the Lord sees them: Acts 9: 13-15 If we choose to judge others based on the worlds view of them, then we will never see them as the Lord sees them.
I think a lot of times it is easy to see others (or ourselves) and judge based on mistakes of the past and shortcomings. I think when the Lord sees people he sees them for what they can be, not what they have done. Everyone around us has divine potential. Just as Saul probably didn't seem like a likely candidate to "bear the name of the Lord before the Gentiles, and kings, and children of Israel", but the Lord saw him as a chosen vessel, he saw him for his potential. I love a quote by President Monson that says, "If we treat people merely as they are, they will remain as they are." I know that I can do a better job of see and treating others as the Lord would.