-
Paul's Question
Contributed by John Mccormack on Oct 17, 2013 (message contributor)
Summary: ASKING FOR DIVINE GUIDANCE
PAUL’S QUESTION
OBSERVATION: AFTER PAUL’S CONVERSION, HE WENT TO THE TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM. HIS FELLOW JEWS WERE INCENSED AT HIS TEACHINGS EVEN THOUGH HE INFORMED THEM HE WAS A STUDENT OF THE RENOWNED, JEWISH SCHOLAR, GAMALIEL. AFTER THE JEWS FLOGGED HIM, ROMAN SOLDERS INTERVENED AND INCARCERATED HIM FOR HIS SAFETY. (REF: ACTS 21:26-36)
INTERPRETATION: ACTS 22:10 (NKJV) 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.’
YOU MUST BE KEEN IN KNOWING WHAT YOU ARE TO DO IN YOUR CHRISTIAN WALK. THE LORD CERTAINLY DID NOT DIRECT YOU TO BE IDLE. BLIND EXCITEMENT OR CAPRICIOUSNESS IS CERTAINLY NOT GOD’S WAY. DIVINE GUIDANCE IS YOUR ANSWER.
PROVERBS 16:9 (NKJV) A MAN’S HEART PLANS HIS WAY, BUT THE LORD DIRECTS HIS STEPS.
MAN PROPOSES HIS WISHES, BUT GOD ANSWERS AS HE THINKS. (QUOTE FROM ADAM CLARKE)
PSALMS 16:7 I WILL BLESS THE LORD WHO HAS GIVEN ME COUNSEL; MY HEART ALSO INSTRUCTS ME IN THE NIGHT SEASONS.
AS GOD GAVE COUNSEL TO DAVID IN THIS PASSAGE, HE INSTRUCTED PAUL IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO.
APPLICATION: WHEN IN DOUBT ASK THE SAME QUESTION THE APOSTLE PAUL ASKED, WHAT SHALL I DO?