Captain of our ship, masters of fate
Are
you a planner? Do you have life mapped out for next 10 years,
anticipating some big event? James offers a sobering word of caution
about that:
"Look here, you people who say, “Today or
tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We
will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what will
happen tomorrow? For your life is like the morning fog-it’s here a
little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord
wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” (James 4:13-15, NLT)
Me,
like the morning fog? Yes, even if our lives stretch out for 7 or 8
decades here on this earth, it’s not very long. If we are living in
God’s will, though, we will never die! Oh, yes, our bodies will cease to
function, but we will transit to an existence in His Presence. Knowing
that, living in His will takes on new importance, doesn’t it?
But, what isHis
will? Do you ever wish God would be clearer in His directions? We
wonder if we should take that position or stay where we are, if we
should invest in that effort or walk away, if it is the right time to
buy a house, go to school, get married, go for a second career. We love
our options. True disciples of Christ realize that all these questions
are subject to One who sees beyond today. They hold onto
their plans loosely, ready to respond to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
How
does that happen? Do you think that those people we read about in the
Bible got their directions straight and clear all the time? While
reading the stories about Paul in the book of Acts, we could conclude
that he prayed and that a voice from the heavens sounded in his ears,
pointing him in the right direction. Well, think again.
“Next
Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia,
because the Holy Spirit had told them not to go into the province of
Asia at that time. Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed for
the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not let them
go. So instead, they went on through Mysia to the city of Troas.“Acts 16:6-8 NLT Study a map and you will find that these apostles wandered! They obviously didn't know where they were going!
The really impressive lesson in this passage is their faithful endurance. They kept walking and waiting. They pushed in one direction until the Spirit said, "No," then they went in another direction. Maybe they wondered IF they had heard from God at all, but they kept moving forward. In the next few verses, we see that God led them into a new region and they were privileged to extend the borders of Christianity into Macedonia and Phillippi.
The really impressive lesson in this passage is their faithful endurance. They kept walking and waiting. They pushed in one direction until the Spirit said, "No," then they went in another direction. Maybe they wondered IF they had heard from God at all, but they kept moving forward. In the next few verses, we see that God led them into a new region and they were privileged to extend the borders of Christianity into Macedonia and Phillippi.
It is
important to seek God’s will about the big issues I mentioned as I
opened this thought, but the more critical choice is to live in obedience right
now! There are things He has made abundantly clear for us. “Love
others. Be forgiving. Do good works. Stay in fellowship with God’s
people. Tell others about His love. Don’t steal, cheat, lie, lust, or
hate. Keep a prayerful heart. Don’t gossip.” When we are living with a
heart aligned to these directions, we can - yes, we will! - more
readily be led in the so-called BIG decisions. A heart yielded to His
Lordship is the key.
There are so many reasons we don't always sense the Spirit guiding us as powerfully as we would like:
-tests to deepen our trust,
-circumstances unknown to us that God knows and is working out for our good,
-sin that makes us spiritually 'hard of hearing,'
-pride and/or prejudice that He is rooting out of our lives, just to name a few.
If
you're wandering and waiting, stay faithful! Keep praying. Don't sit
down and feel sorry for yourself! God is alive and well. He is actively
working out His plans and purposes, so keep the faith. Keep walking and
waiting, listening and responding.
"In that day the people
will proclaim, “This is our God. We trusted in him, and he saved us.
This is the Lord, in whom we trusted. Let us rejoice in the salvation he
brings!” (Isaiah 25:9, NLT)
_____________
Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah
Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land.
I am weak but Thou art mighty,
Hold me with Thy pow'rful hand.
Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven,
Feed me now and ever more!
Feed me now and ever more!
Open Thou the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing stream doth flow.
Let the fiery cloudy pillar,
Lead me all my journey through.
Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer,
Be Thou still my strength and shield!
Be Thou still my strength and shield!
When I tread the verge of Jordan
Bid my anxious fears subside.
Death of death and hell's destruction,
Land me safe on Canaan's side.
Songs of praises, songs of praises,
I will ever give to Thee!
I will ever give to Thee!
John Hughes | Peter Williams | William Williams
Public Domain
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