OBEYING IN STEPS
ACTS 22:6-10 NKJV
6 "Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me. 7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' 8 So I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said to me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.' 9 "And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me. 10 So I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, 'Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.'
Paul is recounting for a mob of angry Jews his story of what happened on the road to Damascus. Hidden in this brief history is an important lesson in following the Lord's leadership.
Paul was sharing his story with a mob that had been beating him and wanted him dead. His courage to speak with this group is inspiring. The tendency would be to let those soldiers get you way away from these religious zealots.
But not Paul. He is telling about his history as a Jewish leader and former persecutor of Christians. He calls it the Way.
Then he reveals the details of what happened on the road to Damascus. A great light from heaven shone around him, and he fell to the ground.
When Jesus spoke to Paul, he was the only one who could hear his voice. The issue Jesus had was with Paul, so no one else needed to hear what took place. It is good to know that the Lord is not the One who airs our problems out with other people. Even though Paul had done great harm to the church, Jesus dealt with him one on one.
Paul did not realize that he had been persecuting Jesus. He asked, "Who are you, Lord? And Jesus spoke that Paul's persecution of the church was actually a persecution against the Lord Jesus Himself.
When Paul asked about what to do, Jesus sent him into Damascus. There in Damascus, it would be told him what his assignment would be.
Paul could have turned around and gone home. He could have been so spooked by his experience that he would have gone anywhere but Damascus.
But Paul showed real wisdom and took a step of faith. It was there in Damascus that Paul received his next step, be baptized. And that he was to be a witness of Jesus all over the world.
APPLICATION:
The Lord often leads us in steps. Then when we have obeyed what He asks us to do, we get the next step.
This is why we encourage people to start moving towards what they sense is the Lord's leading. Way too often, I have seen people just sit, and they are still sitting years later.
My first step was serving as an usher at Lakewood. Then Bible School. Then back to Lakewood. Then working in children's ministry. I certainly have not gotten it all right, but I kept moving, kept taking steps. I am so thankful that I did.
PRAYER:
Lord thank You for leading me step by step. I purpose in my heart to obey.