Saturday (6/21/2014)

Update:

After work on Friday, I went on a 7.2 mile bike ride.  I planned a route that I knew I couldn’t pedal up the hill (going west past the Mischke’s)—so I walked the bike up the hill stopping for breaks along the way up (.3 mile).  Riding down the hill into Fall Creek was the fun part; by the time I got home I was completely out of gas and had to lay down for a while.   Just to prove that I am a guy, after I felt better, I immediately did an hour of exercises.  Whew!  What a surprise!  I was wiped out again.  I sat at the table resting until Karen came home and fed me dinner.   So now I am deciding what else the night holds for me—I might drive down to the park and walk around a bit checking out the carnival at the Lion’s Fun Fest; but after that I’m thinking recliner!!

Thought for the Day:

In Acts 21, Paul is warned that persecution and imprisonment await him if he goes to Jerusalem.  His companions beg him not to go; however Paul decides that whatever fate awaits him—he must go.

Acts 21:10-13     “While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. ¹¹ And coming to us, he took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit, 'This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'" ¹² When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. ¹³ Then Paul answered, "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."

“It is always the individual's responsibility to interpret the meaning and action required from counsel from others. This is not the role of the prophetic gifts of others. He is the messenger, the recipient needs to determine the action required from the message.  There is no reason to think that Paul went to Jerusalem in violation of the will of God. The prophetic forecasts were not prohibitions from the Holy Spirit but forewarnings of what lay ahead. Paul's friends tried to dissuade him from risking his life; but the apostle remained steadfast in accomplishing his mission that he believed was from God in spite of personal danger.  The important lesson for us is to understand that doing the will of God does not always have a positive outcome. If it did, we would make decisions based only on perceived outcome. This is not a biblical way of making decisions. Jesus was obedient to the cross.”   [Os Hillman, TGIF, Today God is First, on-line daily devotional, 6/21/2014].

Sometimes what God asks of us makes no sense.  At the time, it seems like doing just the opposite is more logical.  Perhaps your boss wants you to lie about an action that your company was supposed to take; but failed to do.  You know that lying is wrong because God tells us to speak the truth; however, if you don’t lie your company will be damaged, your boss will be mad at you, and you might even lose your job!  It would seem like the best course of action would be to spin the truth and cover for your company.  Despite the potential cost to us, God desires for us to be obedient to His word and to His will. 

I’ve been on mission trips where my personal safety wasn’t guaranteed.  I felt confident that God called me to serve in this fashion so I went without concern for my personal safety.  I knew that God was able to keep me safe and secure; but I didn’t have any promise that is what would happen.  The reality is that His plan might have included danger or harm to me.  My attitude was of trust and surrender.  God could do with my life what He willed (I wasn’t going to be able to stop Him anyway…) and I fully trust that He would be with me whatever I went through—so in the end, it would be okay. 

Sometimes determining what God wants us to do isn’t obviously clear cut.  While making a list of Pros/Cons might be helpful; it alone can never be the final determining factor.  Sometimes God invites us to step out in faith into the realm of the unknown where we are forced to trust Him with everything we hold dear. 

It is easy to do so when everything always turns out nice and pretty.  It is much tougher when life turns ugly and vicious.  We may not always understand His plan.  We may have chosen a different outcome.  We might end up going through pain and misery.  But God will walk through it every step of the way with us.  We won’t be left alone; nor will we be left without the resources that we need.

So as you seek to follow God in your life; don’t let fear guide your decisions.  Have faith and trust in God to lead you to the best path to follow.  He’ll be your companion every step of the way.