Aug
27
Celebrate, But Be Ready
Filed Under Devotional
You ever notice how, in the Bible, a visit from an angel or a discussion with God is a sort of good news/bad news situation? Those whom God chooses do not have an easy road ahead.
Noah was told that he was going to be the main character in saving humanity from the flood. But, he had to put up with ridicule for years before that paid off. Abraham was promised by God to be the father of a great nation, but his life had it’s troubled spots along the way. Even Mary and Joseph were told by an angel about their honor of raising Jesus, but they had to endure the disapproval of a pregnancy before the marriage was consummated, the whole trek-to-Bethlehem thing, and the flight to Egypt all before Jesus reached his teens.
I thought of that pattern again when I read Paul’s speech to his shipmates as they were fighting a storm:
“Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.” Acts 27:23-26
Good news, God says you will all live! Bad news, we’ll run aground on some island. Great.
I think the larger message here is that when God selects you to do something special, it will likely mean some trials first. That is simply refinement and preparation. It is not without reason. It is to make you into the person He needs you to be.
So, when you hear from God, celebrate, but be ready.