Acts 26:19 “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven.”

How many of us are genuinely obedient to what God shows us? Not many people are given as dramatic a vision as Paul was, but God is faithful to guide His children. The thing is, we are too often like rebellious 2-year-olds, and our favorite word is NO. (Actually, we are more likely to behave like teenagers, thinking we know better than God, but the principle is the same.) The thing is, God is love, (1 John 4:8) and everything He tells us to do is motivated by that. And as John says in the very next chapter, it’s reciprocal: “This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.” (1 John 5:3) John was just echoing what he had heard Jesus say (John 14:15) and as he had experienced Jesus being. The closer we draw to Jesus, the more we open our hearts to His love, the better we will hear Him and the more obedient we will be. The thing is, Paul, while he was still called Saul, was totally dedicated to God, but in his ignorance and deception he was actively persecuting the very One he loved. He totally misunderstood the character of God, and thought that violence toward those he saw as apostate would be pleasing to God. We might be just as deceived! However, if the underlying love is there, God will always correct us, as strongly as necessary. Saul needed pretty strong correction! However, the track record of his obedience from that point is an example for us all to follow.

I’m going to be speaking on Vision this afternoon. I have never had a vision of the sort Saul had, nor a near-death experience, for that matter. However, I have felt God’s clear guidance countless times, and I am deeply grateful. I wish I could say I have always been obedient! I remember a song from Jesus Christ Superstar, that says, “I don’t know how to love him.” I am still learning how to love my Lord, in response to His infinite love toward me, but I think I have that in common with every other believer; none of us do it perfectly. I take great comfort in what Paul wrote to the Philippian believers: “It is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” (Philippians 2:13) And, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6) I am to keep following my physical father’s instructions, giving all I know of myself to all I know of Christ, and trust Him completely with the outcome.

Father, thank You for this reminder. It’s certainly timely! Thank You for all You have enabled us to do in preparation for today, and that You will bring it all to a successful conclusion. Help me and Cathy, particularly, to rest, relax, and rejoice in You throughout today, so that in our focus on You, You may be fully glorified. Thank You. Praise God!