Colossians 1:11-12 "...Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, who has quallified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:"
As a teacher, I know that in order to master a concept, a student needs multiple exposures to it. If he is to internalize and truly understand it, he needs continual review and opportunities to apply it. Once is not enough.
As a student, I wish I could fully comprehend and apply a concept at first glance. I don't want to have to go over it again and again. I want to move on to something more interesting.
God is the Master Teacher and He knows full well that I, His student, am a slow learner, particularly when it comes to patience and longsuffering. I wish He would instantly infuse me with those two qualities, but instead He chooses to give me multiple and varied opportunities to learn.
My wife and I are in the midst of such a learning experience. Our "grand adventure" of building a new home and retiring near our family in southern Utah is not going according to our schedule. (Does it ever?!) We thought we would be getting settled in our home by mid-July. It is now the beginning of September and we're still a month or so away from the house being ready to occupy. Our California home closed escrow two weeks ago, so we (along with our four dogs and three cats) are officially "homeless" for the time being.
God knows how difficult it is to master the trait of patience ("being willing to remain in a situation until God chooses to remove you from it or it from you"). Paul indicates that it requires my being strengthened with all of God's power in order to exercise patience joyfully!
When my patience is tested and my joy fades, I tend to get "tunnel-vision"; my focus narrows to include only the negatives. How do I get out of this place? How do I restore my perspective and joy? For me, the answer is counting my blessings, remembering God's faithfulness in my life. Tied to being strengthened with God's power is giving thanks for what God has done and promises to do. He has been answering my prayers and giving specific direction each day, but I have been taking those for granted and focusing more on my frustrations.
As I shift my attention to my Heavenly Father, my frame of reference broadens and I am able to put my current frustrations into a more accurate context. When that happens I am better able to endure and enjoy my adventure.
Dear Lord, please forgive me for trying to force Your plan into my time schedule. I know that Your schedule is perfect, that You are never tardy. Please help me to keep my focus on You and enable me to enjoy today, knowing that You have tomorrow taken care of. I love You and look forward to seeing You work things out.
Amen.
Saturday, September 6, 2014
Monday, June 2, 2014
What have you done for me lately?
Joshua 4:19-24 "Now the people came up from the Jordan on the tenth of the first month and camped at Gilgal on the eastern edge of Jericho. Those twelve stones which they had taken from the Jordan, Joshua set up at Gilgal. He said to the sons of Israel, "When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, 'What are these stones?' then you shall inform your children, saying, 'Israel crossed this Jordan on dry ground.' "For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed, just as the LORD your God had done to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed; that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, so that you may fear the LORD your God forever."
Last Saturday, as I was in the garage, getting ready to put a fresh coat of paint on the door going into the house, my attention was drawn to the casing on the left side of the door. It was badly in need of touching up; pencil lines, writing, and smudges covered it from top to bottom, but I had no intention of painting it. Instead, I carefully pried it loose and replaced it with a fresh piece of moulding. My plan is to mount that old, smudged trim in the shop at the "Utah house".
Why go to all that trouble for a useless, dirty piece of wood? Because those lines and words chronicle the growth of my granddaughters. As I gazed at those markings, my twenty-something year-old granddaughters became three-year-olds once more. My heart and mind were flooded with memories of them at the various ages listed before me.
I need reminders of God's work in my life. When I'm stressed and besieged by doubts, when I'm tempted to ask God, "What have You done for me lately?", re-visiting memories of His faithfulness and provision draw me back to a place of trust and peace.
We don't have to use stones, like the Israelites did. It can be as simple as a marked-up piece of door casing (I plan to mount a fresh piece next to the old one for my great-grandchildren). I've been keeping a journal of sorts that chronicles our journey into retirement and the building of our new home. Reviewing it from time to time keeps my faith fresh and my vision clear.
Dear Lord, Thank You for Your faithfulness - Your provision, direction, protection in my life. Please keep those experiences fresh in my heart so the doubts and fears won't dim the memories of Your blessings and intervention. Help me to celebrate You today! Amen.
Last Saturday, as I was in the garage, getting ready to put a fresh coat of paint on the door going into the house, my attention was drawn to the casing on the left side of the door. It was badly in need of touching up; pencil lines, writing, and smudges covered it from top to bottom, but I had no intention of painting it. Instead, I carefully pried it loose and replaced it with a fresh piece of moulding. My plan is to mount that old, smudged trim in the shop at the "Utah house".
Why go to all that trouble for a useless, dirty piece of wood? Because those lines and words chronicle the growth of my granddaughters. As I gazed at those markings, my twenty-something year-old granddaughters became three-year-olds once more. My heart and mind were flooded with memories of them at the various ages listed before me.
I need reminders of God's work in my life. When I'm stressed and besieged by doubts, when I'm tempted to ask God, "What have You done for me lately?", re-visiting memories of His faithfulness and provision draw me back to a place of trust and peace.
We don't have to use stones, like the Israelites did. It can be as simple as a marked-up piece of door casing (I plan to mount a fresh piece next to the old one for my great-grandchildren). I've been keeping a journal of sorts that chronicles our journey into retirement and the building of our new home. Reviewing it from time to time keeps my faith fresh and my vision clear.
Dear Lord, Thank You for Your faithfulness - Your provision, direction, protection in my life. Please keep those experiences fresh in my heart so the doubts and fears won't dim the memories of Your blessings and intervention. Help me to celebrate You today! Amen.
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Renewing trust and Refocusing vision...
Acts 28:15 "And the brethren, when they heard about us, came from there as far as the Market of Appius and Three Inns to meet us; and when Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage."
Joan and I are in the throws of a major life change and we're at a point where the stress tends to distort our perception and dilute our trust in God's direction. I'm retiring in three weeks, after 40 years in Christian education. We're building a house in southern Utah, near our daughter, granddaughters, and great-grandchildren. Our house, in which we've lived for 34 years, is on the market.
We believe that God has been directing our steps, and as we look back over the last two years, His "fingerprints" can be seen throughout our journey. Yet, as we wade through the daily details, it is easy to lose sight of the big picture.
Our house no longer feels like home - much of our furnishings is in storage and the house has been "staged" to make it appeal to a broader group of potential buyers. We have to be ready at any moment to take our 4 dogs and leave the premises so the house can be shown.
Twice, now, as our frustration threatened to get the better of us, God sent "brothers" to us. The first time was in Home Depot. We encountered Jeremy and his wife in the plumbing fixtures aisle. After a few minutes of small talk, something he said told me he was a Christian. Turns out that he's a contractor and that God told him to go to Haiti to help after the tsunami. He obeyed, went to Haiti to help the displaced children, met his wife, Gustalia. They opened an orphanage. Now he returns to the States for six months each year to earn enough money to run the orphanage. He told us Gustalia has cancer. We had a prayer meeting in the plumbing aisle of Home Depot. God used Jeremy and Gustalia to refocus our attention and trust on Him. He used us to minister to them.
The second time was a week ago on a Sunday evening. We were in Seal Beach while a realtor showed our house. I was sitting on a bench near the pier with our four dogs, when a young man walked over, sat down, and began petting the dogs. We talked for awhile and then the Holy Spirit revealed that he, too, was a Christian brother. It turns out that he came over to me to witness, to lead me to Christ! Mario truly has the gift of evangelism! Once again, God had set a Divine Appointment just when I needed encouragement.
That's what God did for the apostle Paul as he neared Rome. He was frightened and unsure, and the Holy Spirit directed the Roman believers to walk 30 miles to greet him. The result? "He thanked God and took courage."
I am continually amazed at the tender, personal care God shows me. He knows me inside-out and is ever patient as I ride this roller coaster of faith and doubt. I am so thankful that the Holy Spirit sets "Divine appointments" at just the right time and keeps bringing me back to a place of trust. He restores my peace and joy, builds my faith and confidence, and refocuses my outlook.
Thank You, Lord, for using Your saints to remind me of Your love and mercy. Thank You that you never give up on me. Thank You for restoring my trust and refocusing my vision. Please, Lord, use me today to pay it forward, to help someone else who is struggling. Amen.
Joan and I are in the throws of a major life change and we're at a point where the stress tends to distort our perception and dilute our trust in God's direction. I'm retiring in three weeks, after 40 years in Christian education. We're building a house in southern Utah, near our daughter, granddaughters, and great-grandchildren. Our house, in which we've lived for 34 years, is on the market.
We believe that God has been directing our steps, and as we look back over the last two years, His "fingerprints" can be seen throughout our journey. Yet, as we wade through the daily details, it is easy to lose sight of the big picture.
Our house no longer feels like home - much of our furnishings is in storage and the house has been "staged" to make it appeal to a broader group of potential buyers. We have to be ready at any moment to take our 4 dogs and leave the premises so the house can be shown.
Twice, now, as our frustration threatened to get the better of us, God sent "brothers" to us. The first time was in Home Depot. We encountered Jeremy and his wife in the plumbing fixtures aisle. After a few minutes of small talk, something he said told me he was a Christian. Turns out that he's a contractor and that God told him to go to Haiti to help after the tsunami. He obeyed, went to Haiti to help the displaced children, met his wife, Gustalia. They opened an orphanage. Now he returns to the States for six months each year to earn enough money to run the orphanage. He told us Gustalia has cancer. We had a prayer meeting in the plumbing aisle of Home Depot. God used Jeremy and Gustalia to refocus our attention and trust on Him. He used us to minister to them.
The second time was a week ago on a Sunday evening. We were in Seal Beach while a realtor showed our house. I was sitting on a bench near the pier with our four dogs, when a young man walked over, sat down, and began petting the dogs. We talked for awhile and then the Holy Spirit revealed that he, too, was a Christian brother. It turns out that he came over to me to witness, to lead me to Christ! Mario truly has the gift of evangelism! Once again, God had set a Divine Appointment just when I needed encouragement.
That's what God did for the apostle Paul as he neared Rome. He was frightened and unsure, and the Holy Spirit directed the Roman believers to walk 30 miles to greet him. The result? "He thanked God and took courage."
I am continually amazed at the tender, personal care God shows me. He knows me inside-out and is ever patient as I ride this roller coaster of faith and doubt. I am so thankful that the Holy Spirit sets "Divine appointments" at just the right time and keeps bringing me back to a place of trust. He restores my peace and joy, builds my faith and confidence, and refocuses my outlook.
Thank You, Lord, for using Your saints to remind me of Your love and mercy. Thank You that you never give up on me. Thank You for restoring my trust and refocusing my vision. Please, Lord, use me today to pay it forward, to help someone else who is struggling. Amen.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Fight or flee?...
Acts 14:1-3. "In Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together, and spoke in such a manner that a large number of people believed, both of Jews and of Greeks. But the Jews who disbelieved stirred up the minds of the Gentiles and embittered them against the brethren. Therefore they spent a long time there speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord, who was testifying to the word of His grace, granting that signs and wonders be done by their hands."
"Discretion is the better part of valor." "You have to know when to hold 'em and know when to fold 'em." Whether it's standing against an angry enemy or playing out a hand in poker, how do you know when to fight and when to flee?
The apostle faced fierce opposition in Iconium, but God directed him to remain there to strengthen the young Christians. Only after they were nearly stoned to death, did he and Barnabas leave the city.
I recall a dilemma that occurred 22 years ago, yet still evokes a fresh rush of emotions. It was a cool spring morning in Moscow, Russia The year was 1992, just a matter of months since the Soviet Union had dissolved. My friend, Dave, and I were near the back of a crowd of 25 or so, standing in front of Lenin's tomb, waiting to see the changing of the guard. It was a holiday honoring the border guards, and loud, drunken soldiers, fresh from the conflict with Afghanistan could be seen throughout Red Square. A handful of them stood a few feet in front of us.
Behind us I heard a young woman's clear, bold voice. She held an open Bible and, with the smattering of Russian I had picked up, I knew she was preaching about Jesus. A young man stood beside her, silently praying. You can imagine the response of the soldiers. In an instant their demeanor switched from humor to mocking, then to rage. As they turned and started towards her, Dave and I glanced at each other and we immediately closed ranks, blocking the soldiers' advance. At once the sensible part of me objected loudly to that response, but I stood my ground as the angry men vented their frustration towards us. They finally tired of the situation and stumbled away. By now the crowd had grown to about 100, and the young lady kept right on preaching. Dave and I blessed her and stepped away, amazed at how God had orchestrated such an opportunity for His Word to be heard at the tomb of a renowned atheist.
So what's the answer to the question? How do you know when to stand firm and when to throw in the towel? As I read through Acts, a couple of things stand out whenever the apostles found themselves in conflict over the Gospel. First, Peter and John said, "We must obey God rather than man." Second, the early Christians depended on the direction and protection of the Holy Spirit. These timeless principles still ring true today.
Today the contrast between God's Word and the world's "wisdom" is becoming more and more obvious. Society flaunts its immoral behavior and anyone who chooses to object becomes an instant target of ridicule and persecution. So what do we do? Fight or flee? Stand firm or fade away?
Dear Lord, thank You for clearly delineating what is right and what is wrong. Thank You for empowering me with Your Holy Spirit. I pray for wisdom, discernment, courage, and protection as I put on my spiritual armor and engage the enemy today. Amen.
"Discretion is the better part of valor." "You have to know when to hold 'em and know when to fold 'em." Whether it's standing against an angry enemy or playing out a hand in poker, how do you know when to fight and when to flee?
The apostle faced fierce opposition in Iconium, but God directed him to remain there to strengthen the young Christians. Only after they were nearly stoned to death, did he and Barnabas leave the city.
I recall a dilemma that occurred 22 years ago, yet still evokes a fresh rush of emotions. It was a cool spring morning in Moscow, Russia The year was 1992, just a matter of months since the Soviet Union had dissolved. My friend, Dave, and I were near the back of a crowd of 25 or so, standing in front of Lenin's tomb, waiting to see the changing of the guard. It was a holiday honoring the border guards, and loud, drunken soldiers, fresh from the conflict with Afghanistan could be seen throughout Red Square. A handful of them stood a few feet in front of us.
Behind us I heard a young woman's clear, bold voice. She held an open Bible and, with the smattering of Russian I had picked up, I knew she was preaching about Jesus. A young man stood beside her, silently praying. You can imagine the response of the soldiers. In an instant their demeanor switched from humor to mocking, then to rage. As they turned and started towards her, Dave and I glanced at each other and we immediately closed ranks, blocking the soldiers' advance. At once the sensible part of me objected loudly to that response, but I stood my ground as the angry men vented their frustration towards us. They finally tired of the situation and stumbled away. By now the crowd had grown to about 100, and the young lady kept right on preaching. Dave and I blessed her and stepped away, amazed at how God had orchestrated such an opportunity for His Word to be heard at the tomb of a renowned atheist.
So what's the answer to the question? How do you know when to stand firm and when to throw in the towel? As I read through Acts, a couple of things stand out whenever the apostles found themselves in conflict over the Gospel. First, Peter and John said, "We must obey God rather than man." Second, the early Christians depended on the direction and protection of the Holy Spirit. These timeless principles still ring true today.
Today the contrast between God's Word and the world's "wisdom" is becoming more and more obvious. Society flaunts its immoral behavior and anyone who chooses to object becomes an instant target of ridicule and persecution. So what do we do? Fight or flee? Stand firm or fade away?
Dear Lord, thank You for clearly delineating what is right and what is wrong. Thank You for empowering me with Your Holy Spirit. I pray for wisdom, discernment, courage, and protection as I put on my spiritual armor and engage the enemy today. Amen.
Friday, January 31, 2014
"Rethinking my Non-negotiables"
Acts 10:9-15 "On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance; and he *saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air.
A voice came to him, "Get up, Peter, kill and eat!" But Peter said, "By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean." Again a voice came to him a second time, "What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy."
My mom is 91 and my mother-in-law is 94. Both of them are life-long Believers and both still regularly attend church. In our conversations about church, they share the same two complaints. 1. The Music - way too loud, no hymns; 2. Attire - far too casual, both in the congregation and in the pulpit (not appropriate for worship, disrespectful to God). As I listen to others who are my age or older and who have grown up in church, the same two issues top the list of "what's wrong with churches these days". I have to admit that I still feel more comfortable wearing a tie on Sundays and I do miss those hymns.
I think I'm sometimes stuck in Peter's mindset. He had a well-defined set of personal guidelines and he balked whenever someone tried to stretch him beyond those boundaries, even if that Someone was God. Think about it. What was his response when Jesus announced that He must go to the cross? "No way, Jesus!" His reaction when Jesus wanted to wash his feet? "Not mine - never!" How about when the Holy Spirit tried to get him to eat something that was "unclean"? "It's not going to touch my lips!"
Peter's "non-negotiables" were much broader than God's and he resisted God's efforts to re-align them. As Peter began to recognize his own prejudices (based upon the Law and tradition), his perspective aligned with God's and his ministry expanded dramatically.
I, too, have my own set of non-negotiables. Many are based on Scripture, but others are based upon traditions, experience, preferences. God keeps working on me to pare them down to match His.
I am coming to understand that by clinging to my "non-scriptural non-negotiables", I hinder the Holy Spirit's progress in shaping me to be more like Jesus, I limit my fellowship with others who think differently, I thwart God's efforts to expand my ministry, and I rob myself of joy. To be honest, it frightens me, unsettles me to think this way. I find security in my set of standards, and it is hard to admit that some (maybe much) of what I consider non-negotiable is, from God's perspective, actually negotiable.
Dear Lord, You have a habit of shaking up my thinking and I find it very uncomfortable. I confess that I'd rather not change, yet I also want to see things through Your eyes, from Your perspective. So, with Your direction, I commit to rethinking what I consider to be non-negotiable. Please give me the courage and discernment to align my convictions with what You reveal in Your Word. Thank You for being so patient and with me. Amen.
A voice came to him, "Get up, Peter, kill and eat!" But Peter said, "By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean." Again a voice came to him a second time, "What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy."
My mom is 91 and my mother-in-law is 94. Both of them are life-long Believers and both still regularly attend church. In our conversations about church, they share the same two complaints. 1. The Music - way too loud, no hymns; 2. Attire - far too casual, both in the congregation and in the pulpit (not appropriate for worship, disrespectful to God). As I listen to others who are my age or older and who have grown up in church, the same two issues top the list of "what's wrong with churches these days". I have to admit that I still feel more comfortable wearing a tie on Sundays and I do miss those hymns.
I think I'm sometimes stuck in Peter's mindset. He had a well-defined set of personal guidelines and he balked whenever someone tried to stretch him beyond those boundaries, even if that Someone was God. Think about it. What was his response when Jesus announced that He must go to the cross? "No way, Jesus!" His reaction when Jesus wanted to wash his feet? "Not mine - never!" How about when the Holy Spirit tried to get him to eat something that was "unclean"? "It's not going to touch my lips!"
Peter's "non-negotiables" were much broader than God's and he resisted God's efforts to re-align them. As Peter began to recognize his own prejudices (based upon the Law and tradition), his perspective aligned with God's and his ministry expanded dramatically.
I, too, have my own set of non-negotiables. Many are based on Scripture, but others are based upon traditions, experience, preferences. God keeps working on me to pare them down to match His.
I am coming to understand that by clinging to my "non-scriptural non-negotiables", I hinder the Holy Spirit's progress in shaping me to be more like Jesus, I limit my fellowship with others who think differently, I thwart God's efforts to expand my ministry, and I rob myself of joy. To be honest, it frightens me, unsettles me to think this way. I find security in my set of standards, and it is hard to admit that some (maybe much) of what I consider non-negotiable is, from God's perspective, actually negotiable.
Dear Lord, You have a habit of shaking up my thinking and I find it very uncomfortable. I confess that I'd rather not change, yet I also want to see things through Your eyes, from Your perspective. So, with Your direction, I commit to rethinking what I consider to be non-negotiable. Please give me the courage and discernment to align my convictions with what You reveal in Your Word. Thank You for being so patient and with me. Amen.
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Trusting God when it doesn't make sense...
Acts 9:10-14 "Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord." And the Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight." But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name."
Trusting God is rarely an easy thing to do. Faith, by it's very nature, leads me out of my comfort zone, stretching me beyond what I think are my limits. Occasionally God goes way past what I would say is reasonable. The Old Testament saints in Hebrews 11 illustrate that point quite well.
Ananias surely felt that way when The Lord told him to go visit Saul. In so many words he asked God if He was sure He knew what He was doing. Hadn't He heard what a scary character, what a bad man he was?
I have felt that way a few times in my life. God seemed to be asking me to do something that didn't make any sense. Yet, when I took a deep breath and obediently plunged ahead, The Lord "blessed my socks off." Those times have become markers, reference points in my life. When my faith is shaky, the Holy Spirit takes me back there and reminds me of God's faithfulness.
Like Ananias, my goal today is to hear God clearly and obey, even if it doesn't make sense.
Dear Lord, thank You for being so patient with me when I balk at what You are leading me to do. Thank you for stretching me and for proving Your faithfulness time after time. I love You and trust You. I'm looking forward to what You're going to teach me today.
Trusting God is rarely an easy thing to do. Faith, by it's very nature, leads me out of my comfort zone, stretching me beyond what I think are my limits. Occasionally God goes way past what I would say is reasonable. The Old Testament saints in Hebrews 11 illustrate that point quite well.
Ananias surely felt that way when The Lord told him to go visit Saul. In so many words he asked God if He was sure He knew what He was doing. Hadn't He heard what a scary character, what a bad man he was?
I have felt that way a few times in my life. God seemed to be asking me to do something that didn't make any sense. Yet, when I took a deep breath and obediently plunged ahead, The Lord "blessed my socks off." Those times have become markers, reference points in my life. When my faith is shaky, the Holy Spirit takes me back there and reminds me of God's faithfulness.
Like Ananias, my goal today is to hear God clearly and obey, even if it doesn't make sense.
Dear Lord, thank You for being so patient with me when I balk at what You are leading me to do. Thank you for stretching me and for proving Your faithfulness time after time. I love You and trust You. I'm looking forward to what You're going to teach me today.
Monday, January 20, 2014
Life's two key questions...
Acts 22:6-10 "But it happened that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus about noontime, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me, and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' I said, "Who are You, Lord?" And He said, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting." ...... And I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, 'Get up and go on into Damascus, and there you will be told of all that has been appointed for you to do.'"
If you encountered Jesus.face to face, what question would you ask Him? Some time ago a Gallup survey. queried what 3 questions you would ask God... here are the top 5 responses:
1. Will there ever be lasting world peace?
2. How can I be a better person?
3. What does the future hold for my family and me?
4. Will there ever be a cure for all diseases?
5. Why is there suffering in the world?
As I read the three accounts of Paul's conversion in Acts, I saw that Paul asked two questions of Jesus.
1. Who are You? He was acquainted with Jesus ... He had undoubtedly heard Him teach in and around Jerusalem. Paul was probably a member of the Sanhedrin, and as such, could possibly sat with those who condemned Jesus. He knew about Jesus, but didn't know him. Knowing Jesus became Paul's lifelong quest. (Phil 3:10)
2. What do You want me to do?
As the immensity of the encounter sank in, Paul's second question asked for direction. What shall I do? When we ask that question, we must ask it humbly with submission and determined obedience. Jesus gave Paul a broad job description - preach to the Gentiles, but He only gave enough specifics to get him through the next few days. That's usually how He works with us, too. One step at a time instead of laying out the details of the grand plan all at once.
As I think about it, it seems to me that these are life's most pivotal questions. If I ask humbly and sincerely, and listen carefully to Jesus' response, my life will be on track. My walk with Him will be obedient and honoring to my Savior. That's all I want.
Thank you, Lord, for simplifying my relationship with You. I do want to get to know You more intimately today, and I need You to direct my steps. Help me to obey You today and trust You for tomorrow. Amen.
If you encountered Jesus.face to face, what question would you ask Him? Some time ago a Gallup survey. queried what 3 questions you would ask God... here are the top 5 responses:
1. Will there ever be lasting world peace?
2. How can I be a better person?
3. What does the future hold for my family and me?
4. Will there ever be a cure for all diseases?
5. Why is there suffering in the world?
As I read the three accounts of Paul's conversion in Acts, I saw that Paul asked two questions of Jesus.
1. Who are You? He was acquainted with Jesus ... He had undoubtedly heard Him teach in and around Jerusalem. Paul was probably a member of the Sanhedrin, and as such, could possibly sat with those who condemned Jesus. He knew about Jesus, but didn't know him. Knowing Jesus became Paul's lifelong quest. (Phil 3:10)
2. What do You want me to do?
As the immensity of the encounter sank in, Paul's second question asked for direction. What shall I do? When we ask that question, we must ask it humbly with submission and determined obedience. Jesus gave Paul a broad job description - preach to the Gentiles, but He only gave enough specifics to get him through the next few days. That's usually how He works with us, too. One step at a time instead of laying out the details of the grand plan all at once.
As I think about it, it seems to me that these are life's most pivotal questions. If I ask humbly and sincerely, and listen carefully to Jesus' response, my life will be on track. My walk with Him will be obedient and honoring to my Savior. That's all I want.
Thank you, Lord, for simplifying my relationship with You. I do want to get to know You more intimately today, and I need You to direct my steps. Help me to obey You today and trust You for tomorrow. Amen.
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