Sunday, November 16, 2014

Acts 22 The Lord Said

Acts 22
Because, the Lord said. The Lord said to Paul, "Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles." (vs 21) This was Paul's defense for proclaiming the Good News. Of all the people in the world, Paul's history was such that he would be the last one that anyone would expect to be a follower of Jesus, doing the Lord's will. He was both a Roman and a Jew. He persecuted Christians; standing by and approving of Stephen's death. But, the ascended Lord, Jesus, came to him. The Lord, Jesus, sent him to proclaim the Good News.

So what do you do when the Lord sends you? Do you go as Paul went, even in the face of hardship, persecution; even if you might have to face death? Or, is your reaction more like Moses' first reaction when he made excuses and tried to reject God's call to go to the people to save them. Moses did not want to God; but, he ultimately went because the Lord said.

God knows who is capable. God knows who and how He has been preparing those whom He will send. Paul's history made him an unlikely candidate to be sent by God according to human understanding. But, it was exactly his history that prepared him for that mission. God knows what He is doing. He does not send unless He prepares us first.

Those first disciples were ordinary men. They were not perfect. They were not all highly educated. But, God prepared them. They followed Jesus around for three years, learning, being disciple. The Lord is preparing you. The Lord said, "Go and make disciples of all people." Will you listen? Will you go?

God's Peace - Pr. J

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