"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.’
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?’
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!’
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?
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.”
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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