I may not see in front of me, But I can see for miles around when I look over my shoulder, and Lord, it`s clear. You`ve brought me here, So faithful every step of the way. What can I do but follow you, For You are the Way, the Truth, the Life, And You`ve promised never to leave me, My Savior, my friend, From beginning to end.
I Am Found In You
by
Steven Curtis Chapman
"I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me." Acts 20:23 NIV
Yesterday we saw that Paul felt compelled by the Holy Spirit to go to Jerusalem. This was not on the most safe city lists for Paul. With the Jews growing rejection of Christ, and with Paul's fervor for telling the "Good News" of Christ, he was a marked man in Jerusalem. Still, Paul follows the Lord's leading and sets out for Jerusalem.
What I find interesting about today's scripture is that Paul knew he was going to face "prison and hardships". He knew life was going to be difficult if he obeyed God. And, still, He obeyed! He obeyed when he knew that a cold, dark, jail cell awaited him. He obeyed when he knew the beatings awaited him. He obeyed when he knew rejection and hatred awaited him. Paul obeyed even when he knew the comforts of life were going to be taken from him.
The question that begs to be asked is this: Would you and I obey God if we knew for sure that doing so would make life uncomfortable, even dangerous? I don't know about you, but I like the comforts of my home. I like having neighbors and friends around who embrace my faith. It is nice to live in an area of the world where I can freely attend church.
Sure, I could always face rejection if I tell the girl at Wal Mart about Jesus, but maybe it would change her life and she would be forever grateful. Would I tell her if I KNEW I would face rejection? Would I tell her if it meant I might spend time in jail?
If you and I want to be more like Christ in 2001, we may have to get out of our comfort zones. To be fully obedient to God, we may have to do things we wouldn't necessarily pick for ourselves. We may have to go places we wouldn't want to go.
The successful Christian life, lived in obedience to God, often requires us to place our faith, not in our comforts, but in our Comforter; in the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Will we do that in this New Year?
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