…I fell into a trance and
saw the Lord speaking “Quick!” he said to me, “leave Jerusalem immediately,
because they will not accept your testimony about me.”
Acts 22.17b,18
Paul was acutely aware of how
people had seen him through his earlier oppressive behaviour toward the Christians,
going from one synagogue to another, to imprison and beat believers. Also his
obnoxious acts at the time of the martyrdom of Stephen when he stood by giving
his full approval.
He had terrorised the Christians, and now he
was preaching and ministering
to them. The situation
was truly remarkable, but reasonably unbelievable!
Yet this is so indicative of God’s work. God can indeed do
anything. Nothing is impossible to Him. He had turned Paul around, but now it
was necessary to safeguard Paul and remove him from the threat he was exposed
to from people who would simply not believe him.
God can certainly do anything – in us and with us. But will
our fellow beings accept the change that God brings about in us?
God moved on Paul: Then the Lord said to me, “Go, I will send
you far away to the Gentiles.” (V 21) And the rest, as they say, is
history! Paul took the Gospel to the Gentiles, and to the world. But He had to
flee Jerusalem.
There may be times when God will move me on. I need to be
willing to go. In Paul’s case it was clear why he should leave. It may not
always be so clear to me, but I have to be open to God, and allow Him to have
His way with me. He truly does know best.
Lord God,
I thank You for this lesson
from Paul. I release myself fully into Your will. May I ever be willing to go
where You would have me go, and give myself to do whatever You might require of
me. I ask for ears to hear, eyes to see, and a heart that is ever open to obey.
I live for You. Direct me and use me as You will, to the joy of the Gospel of
Christ.
My book “God Talk” is available through major
Internet booksellers.
A taste of the book's content can be seen in
the You Tube clip (Search: Peter Francis - "God Talk").
No comments:
Post a Comment