Acts 22:10,21
(10) "What shall I do Lord? I asked. "Get up," the Lord said, "and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do." (21) Then the Lord said to me, "Go; I will send you away to the Gentiles."
I'm always amazed at Paul and the way he totally sold out to Christ. Paul was a man who truly thought he was doing the work of God as he persecuted Christians dragging them away to prison because of their belief in Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God. He was the one who stood by in approval as the crowd beat and stoned Stephen to his death (Acts:22:19,20). But Paul eventually had an encounter with Jesus. While traveling on the way to Damascus Paul saw a bright Light shining all around him and a voice saying, "Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me? Paul asks who it is that is speaking to him and the voice answers saying... "I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting." Paul's next question is a question that will change his life forever. "What shall I do Lord?"
I tried to think back long ago to the day I had my encounter with Jesus... the day I gave my Life to Christ, and I don't remember asking, "What shall I do Lord?" As a matter of fact it's only been in the last several years that I have even thought about asking Jesus what it is He wants me to do. Oh sure I've asked for His guidance and His help, but that's not what Paul was asking here. The question that Paul asked revealed his willingness to obey whatever his Lord tells him to do. You see, when we ask... What shall I do Lord? We are acknowledging that he has power and authority over us, and we're awaiting His instruction. Why did Paul have such an impact on the Kingdom of God? Well it was his willingness to ask this question. Also his willingness to do what he was told to do.
What was Paul's mission? What did God assign Paul to do? He was to tell the world about Jesus. Because of Paul many people other than Jews were now going to be introduced to Jesus. Paul's whole life was full of pain and suffering. In and out of prisons and enduring several beatings. But Paul still praised the Lord in his work. How could he do this? Because he knew that he was in the center of God's will. When in prison, he didn't say woe is me, he said praise the Lord and he sang praises to God and the men around him gave their lives to Christ. It occurs to me that the only way we can sing praises to God during the storms of our lives is when we know we're right where God wants us to be. We're not focused on our circumstances but rather we're asking, "What shall I do Lord, while I'm here in this place?" He might just say... These people need to know me and I've brought you here to tell them the good news. How long has it been since you asked, "What shall I do Lord?"
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus. What is it you want me to do? May I always ask and may I always be obedient to go where you tell me to go and do what you tell me to do. I put my life in your guiding hand. Amen
(10) "What shall I do Lord? I asked. "Get up," the Lord said, "and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do." (21) Then the Lord said to me, "Go; I will send you away to the Gentiles."
I'm always amazed at Paul and the way he totally sold out to Christ. Paul was a man who truly thought he was doing the work of God as he persecuted Christians dragging them away to prison because of their belief in Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God. He was the one who stood by in approval as the crowd beat and stoned Stephen to his death (Acts:22:19,20). But Paul eventually had an encounter with Jesus. While traveling on the way to Damascus Paul saw a bright Light shining all around him and a voice saying, "Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me? Paul asks who it is that is speaking to him and the voice answers saying... "I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting." Paul's next question is a question that will change his life forever. "What shall I do Lord?"
I tried to think back long ago to the day I had my encounter with Jesus... the day I gave my Life to Christ, and I don't remember asking, "What shall I do Lord?" As a matter of fact it's only been in the last several years that I have even thought about asking Jesus what it is He wants me to do. Oh sure I've asked for His guidance and His help, but that's not what Paul was asking here. The question that Paul asked revealed his willingness to obey whatever his Lord tells him to do. You see, when we ask... What shall I do Lord? We are acknowledging that he has power and authority over us, and we're awaiting His instruction. Why did Paul have such an impact on the Kingdom of God? Well it was his willingness to ask this question. Also his willingness to do what he was told to do.
What was Paul's mission? What did God assign Paul to do? He was to tell the world about Jesus. Because of Paul many people other than Jews were now going to be introduced to Jesus. Paul's whole life was full of pain and suffering. In and out of prisons and enduring several beatings. But Paul still praised the Lord in his work. How could he do this? Because he knew that he was in the center of God's will. When in prison, he didn't say woe is me, he said praise the Lord and he sang praises to God and the men around him gave their lives to Christ. It occurs to me that the only way we can sing praises to God during the storms of our lives is when we know we're right where God wants us to be. We're not focused on our circumstances but rather we're asking, "What shall I do Lord, while I'm here in this place?" He might just say... These people need to know me and I've brought you here to tell them the good news. How long has it been since you asked, "What shall I do Lord?"
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus. What is it you want me to do? May I always ask and may I always be obedient to go where you tell me to go and do what you tell me to do. I put my life in your guiding hand. Amen
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