The Toughest Part is Getting Started

"Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, 'Go south to the road -- the desert road -- that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.' So he started out..." Acts 8:26-27a

Phillip had this really big ministry going on in Samaria. He had started it; run into some difficulties; and solved those problems with the support of Peter and John (the big guns from the Jerusalem church). Now it was flourishing -- people were hearing, believing and being baptized. It was growing and it was perfect.

Have you ever felt that way before? A new job, project, or ministry was tough at first but with a little help and a lot of hard work -- it was now successfully sailing along (almost on auto-pilot). Then God says "Go to _________." For me, this is the most challenging part of my Christian walk -- leaving behind the familiar and getting started in a new direction. I have a tendency to say, "Wait Lord; isn't what I'm doing good? I'm just now beginning to make a big impact. Can't I stay here for a while longer and enjoy the fruit of my labor?" The Lord's answer (from verse 26), "Go south on the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza."

At this point we all have a choice to make -- pretend we don't hear the Lord and do what we've been doing; or change direction. Verse 27 tells us what Phillip did, "So he started out..." Phillip conquered his doubts and trusted God. I think that's why being a Christian is so often referred to as a "path," "journey," "road," and so on. It's also why it is so rewarding, interesting, exciting and frustrating -- we are not in control, yet God is able to use our unique talents and abilities in ways we could never imagine. The key is getting started. How do we get started? By taking the first step -- it's the way to begin anything -- stop thinking about all the pros and cons and get moving. An act of obedience in faith is the cornerstone to a joyful and fulfilling life in Christ.

Questions to Ponder:

Over the years, what have been some of your "acts of obedience"? Have you ever chosen to not obey? What was the outcome? What about when you overcame your doubt and you started in a new direction -- what was the outcome? Is God giving you a new direction today? Will you take the first step?

Source: Daily Devotionals
The Pocket Testament League
http://www.pocketpower.org/
Photo: http://www.rccggrays.org/files/inlineimages/Evangelism1.jpg

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Drawing Near to Him in Prayer

How shall I tell you what to draw near to God is? It is prayer, but it is more than prayer. I bow my knee, and I begin to ask the Lord to help me in my time of trouble. I tell him what my trial is. I put up my requests, uttering them with such words as his Holy Spirit giveth me on the occasion; but this alone is not drawing near to God. Prayer is the modus operandi, it is the outward form of drawing near to God; but there is an inner spiritual approach which is scarcely to be described by language.

Shall I tell you how I have sometimes drawn near to him? I have been worn and wearied with a heavy burden, and have resorted to prayer. I have tried to pour out my soul’s anguish in words, but there was not vent enough by way of speech, and therefore my soul has broken out into sighs, and sobs, and tears. Feeling that God was hearing my heart-talk, I have said to him, “Lord, behold my affliction; thou knowest all about it, deliver me. If I cannot exactly tell thee, there is no need of my words, for thou dost see for thyself. Thou searcher of hearts, thou readest me as I read in a book; wilt thou be pleased to help thy poor servant! I scarce know what help it is I want, but thou dost know it. I cannot tell thee what I desire, but teach me to desire what thou wilt be sure to give. Conform my will to thine.”

Perhaps at such a time there may be a peculiar bitterness about your trouble, a secret with which no stranger may intermeddle, but you tell it all out to your God. With broken words, sighs, groans, and tears, you lay bare the inmost secret of your soul. Taking off the doors of your heart from their hinges, you bid the Lord come in, and walk through every chamber, and see the whole. I do not know how to tell you what drawing near to God is better than by this rambling talk. It is getting to feel that the Lord is close to you, and that you have no secret which you wish to keep back from him, but have unveiled your most private and sacred desires to him. The getting right up to Jesus, our Lord, the leaning of the head, when it aches with trouble, upon the heart that always beats with pity, the casting of all care upon him, believing that he cares for you, pities you, and sympathises with you — this is drawing near unto God. It is good for me to draw near unto God, if this be what drawing near to God is.

From a sermon entitled "An Assuredly Good Thing," delivered July 4, 1869.
Source: The Daily Spurgeon http://www.thedailyspurgeon.com/

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