IF IT’S GOD’S WILL IT’S GOD’S BILL
READ Acts 19: 8-22 // Paul in Ephesus
REFLECT
Paul is one of my favourite characters in the Bible. At the age of fourteen Paul was sent to Jerusalem to train to be a Rabbi. He also trained to be a tent maker in order to support himself as a second career in case of hard times. He grew to be a man of firm convictions and spirited temperament. He was very passionate and acted on his beliefs. Thus, when he was confronted with what he took to be an unorthodox opinion to Judaism, he worked with all his might to stop it. This fallacy shortly came to be known as Christianity and Paul was among the first of its persecutors.
He undertook a mission to Damascus. There he aimed to continue on with his attack on Christians. However, on the way, he had a vision. Paul saw Jesus, who asked why Paul strived in persecuting Him. He then commissioned Paul to preach His message to the Gentiles.
This meeting with Jesus made Paul a Christian. Not just any Christian, but the one who wrote a good chunk of the New Testament. He went out boldly preaching his convictions, knowing he would be persecuted and ultimately did lose his life for his beliefs. “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20 )
Whenever we feel convicted that God has called us to do something, we must realize if it’s God’s will, its God’s bill. God called Paul to preach boldly in Acts 19: 11” God GAVE Paul the power to perform unusual miracles” for the people to see God’s power through Paul. God GAVE gifts to many other biblical heroes, that equipped them to go out and do His work – they just had to step out in faith and trust in Him. God gave Moses his brother Aaron who spoke for him and even held up his arms when he became too weary during Joshua’s battle with the Amalekites in Exodus 17.
BOTTOM LINE
When you feel God is asking you to do something greater than you are, be obedient and boldly step out in faith and trust God will enable you to do it. If it’s God’s will – it’s God’s bill – He will grant you the gifts and talents to do so, just as He did Paul and so many others in the Bible.
LIVE
If you’re not stepping out of your comfort zone, then God can’t grow you. Be bold – join that SMALL GROUP, step out and SERVE, GIVE more boldly than you have before and choose to INVEST and INVITE that friend who needs to hear God’s message of salvation, love & grace.
PRAY
I know that you are with me and will equip me to go out and boldly serve you.
Amanda Walker
