What You Must Do

What You Must Do
 
Acts 9:6-9 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
 
JESUS chose a very dramatic, hard way to introduce himself to Saul. Suddenly it was of no consequence that Saul was under the high priest’s authority. He had a new Master to obey. Is this what Saul wanted?
   There seems to be a common teaching that God will never make you do what you don’t want to do. That teaching does not match the Bible. We look back into the Bible’s  history: Joseph didn’t want to be kidnapped. Moses didn’t want to go to Egypt. Gideon didn’t want to attack a huge Midianite army with 300 men carrying torches, trumpets and clay jars. God told these men and many others to do things they didn’t want to do. They responded to their circumstances with a focus on God’s leading. Our LORD advanced his salvation purpose through them. Acts 9 also confirms God commands in various ways, “You will be told what you must do.”
   What could Saul do but obey? Jesus had blinded him. His supporting guard was speechless and helpless against this unknown force. The only thing they could do was lead Saul to a room in Damascus. There he stayed, blind and without food and water for three days. It’s as if Jesus had put him into a grave for three days to prepare him for a resurrected life of faith and worship of the LORD God.
    What about you? If you have a saving relationship with Jesus, your sin nature did not want to submit to Jesus. But one day the Spirit changed your heart. In some form of his power, whether subtle to dramatic, God told you what you must do to be saved.  
   Being Jesus’ disciple means he often confronts you with things you don’t want to do. For example, do you refuse to forgive someone? You know Jesus commands you, “But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:15) Yes, you might believe you have a choice to reject this or other of Jesus’ commands. But you really don’t. Jesus very plainly said, “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” (John 14:15) A deepening love for your Lord will conform your heart to say, “Yes, Lord.” to all he commands. Your objection to forgiveness will become a generous heart to forgive. You will want to know for certain what Jesus tells you to do, so you can lovingly obey him. 
   As God calls you, “Son. Daughter.” be eternally grateful he has made you do what you did not naturally want to do.
   Next we’ll meet Ananias, who was very afraid to do what God told him to do