"Arise, and go into the city, and it will be told thee what thou must do."
Acts 9:6c
Today I have been looking at the life of the apostle Paul (Acts chapter 9)...
Acts 9:6c
Today I have been looking at the life of the apostle Paul (Acts chapter 9)...
From the very outset of his relationship with Jesus, the Lord immediately let Paul know who was in control and who was going to be giving the orders. It was not going to be "Saul of Tarsus" who would be the boss, it was going to be Jesus Christ!
Likewise, it can no longer be my will, but Christ's will that is to be done in my life. Because of my "flesh," this is not so simple. The 'flesh' is not eager to be set aside. Many times, I find myself to be weak and stubborn. Learning to be fully surrendered to God is a long training process. I have not yet reached this point of total submission and obedience. Yet, little by little, the Lord has been bringing me in this direction.
Interestingly, many times the Lord sent Paul to the worst of places. He gave Paul the most difficult tasks. But the Lord had also promised to be with him, to comfort and encourage the apostle, and to give him the divine power to endure and go forward.
The Lord has been speaking to my heart about this. He has often given me assignments which on the surface appeared to be too hard. I have found myself resisting His will many times. A few times I have actually run away.
But the Lord's message to me is, "David, just do it! I am with you and I will see you through. My grace is more than sufficient."
I am not a Paul. I could never fill his shoes. But it is the principle I am talking about. I belong to Jesus. I am His bondservant. I am not on this earth to have a good time and to lay back. I am here to serve the Lord and to present myself to Him as a "living sacrifice." After all, this is surely my reasonable service considering what He went through to save a wretch like me.
I am alive today to do God's will, to say what He wants me to say, when He wants me to say it. I have to go where He tells me to go, even if those places seem hard and unpleasant.
I must learn to always say "Yes" to Jesus, and to say it from my heart. I must "Walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7). I believe that, little by little, I am getting to this place.
D.B.
Likewise, it can no longer be my will, but Christ's will that is to be done in my life. Because of my "flesh," this is not so simple. The 'flesh' is not eager to be set aside. Many times, I find myself to be weak and stubborn. Learning to be fully surrendered to God is a long training process. I have not yet reached this point of total submission and obedience. Yet, little by little, the Lord has been bringing me in this direction.
Interestingly, many times the Lord sent Paul to the worst of places. He gave Paul the most difficult tasks. But the Lord had also promised to be with him, to comfort and encourage the apostle, and to give him the divine power to endure and go forward.
The Lord has been speaking to my heart about this. He has often given me assignments which on the surface appeared to be too hard. I have found myself resisting His will many times. A few times I have actually run away.
But the Lord's message to me is, "David, just do it! I am with you and I will see you through. My grace is more than sufficient."
I am not a Paul. I could never fill his shoes. But it is the principle I am talking about. I belong to Jesus. I am His bondservant. I am not on this earth to have a good time and to lay back. I am here to serve the Lord and to present myself to Him as a "living sacrifice." After all, this is surely my reasonable service considering what He went through to save a wretch like me.
I am alive today to do God's will, to say what He wants me to say, when He wants me to say it. I have to go where He tells me to go, even if those places seem hard and unpleasant.
I must learn to always say "Yes" to Jesus, and to say it from my heart. I must "Walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7). I believe that, little by little, I am getting to this place.
D.B.