Friday, March 16, 2012

THE FIRST STEP IS A BIG ONE

"Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."   (Acts 9:6b NKJV)

Thoughts for Today by The Pocket Testament League:    (1/19/12)

“The Lord's first word of instruction to Saul was – ‘Now.’ I think this is really significant because the timing of when we choose to take the first step (the beginning point of following the Lord's direction) -- has a lot to do with the impact that a conversion experience will have upon us. The danger is that the longer we wait the less motivated we become. 

We can begin to rationalize, for example: ‘He didn't really mean now, there's a lot of loose ends I need to tie up first.’ We might even look for an alternative explanation ‘Maybe that wasn't the Lord I met. Maybe the light was lightning and the voice was just thunder.’ Whatever the situation, the decision of when to get started is always – ‘now.’

The Lord's next words, ‘get up and go... and you will be told what you must do, should be underlined and highlighted in all of our Bibles for they are the key to understanding the concepts of discipleship, faith, and righteousness. These concepts can appear difficult and complicated. However, they are really very simple when expressed as: get up and go... and you will be told what you must do.’ 

The complications jump in when we think too much. Too often we want more control and greater detail, for example ‘Where exactly do you want me to go?’, ‘What exactly do you want me to do when I get there?’ or ‘What should I take with me -- do I need to pickup something on the way?’

In the military, one of the purposes of boot camp is to prepare independent young men and women to take orders without question or explanation. On the battlefield if the sergeant yells ‘hit the ground’ a new recruit might get killed by enemy fire if he or she pauses to ask for more information of what ground to hit, or a more detailed explanation of the danger. 

The same can be true for us as we face the trials and tribulations of the spiritual boot camp we call life -- do we hesitate or obey? All too often we look back at an event and say ‘It would have turned out so much better if I had only listened to the Lord!’

Questions to Ponder:

When the Lord says, ‘Get up and go,’ how do you respond? How do you express in your life the concepts of discipleship, faith, and righteousness? Faith is doing something even though you don't know how it will turn out. 

When was the last time you stepped out in faith? Are you willing to follow the Lord right now, and then wait for His next instruction?   

Members of The Pocket Testament League serve in all areas of life. You can read their motivating and inspiring stories on the League website. Enter keywords related to something you're passionate about to view stories where members have impacted that same ministry area. www.ptl.org


The following is from Devotions for MORNING and EVENING with OSWALD CHAMBERS: (pg 38)

            “When God gives a vision and darkness follow, wait. God will make you in accordance with the vision He has given if you will wait His time. Never try and help God fulfil His word…Have I any confidence in the flesh? Or have I got beyond all confidence in myself and in men and women of God; in books and prayers and ecstasies; and is my confidence placed now in God Himself, not in His blessings. ‘I am the Almighty God’ – El-Shaddai, the Father-Mother God. 

The one thing for which we are all being disciplined is to know that God is real. As soon as God becomes real, other people become shadows. Nothing that other saints do or say can ever perturb the one who is built on God.”

“It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.”  (Prov. 25:2 KJV)

Perhaps you'd like to hear Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman's version of When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, from You Tube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DNGMO35-64

jowildflowers@gmail.com   jean-oathout.blogspot.com  Tomorrow’s post: 

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