Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?(Part Two)

“And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.”
(Acts 9:1-6)
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Since yesterday I have been praying and pondering over the theme of yesterday’s devotion which is repeated today. The more I think of Saul, now Paul’s ( we shall be using Saul and Paul interchangeably) searching the question “… LORD,WHAT WILT THOU HAVE ME TO DO?”, the more I feel compelled to ask the Lord the same question until I hear a definite response from Him. I am afraid that we can be very busy doing some good things and most likely getting some results and the applause of men, and yet we might not be doing what the Lord wants us to do.

Remember that before Paul’s conversion to embrace Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour and Lord, he did so many things, including the persecution of the church, as service unto the Lord. In the Jewish religion, he was seen and respected as a defender and protector of their religion. When Jesus Christ apprehended him, he realised the futility of all the things he had expended his energy on. His perspective of life changed suddenly and unexpectedly after his encounter with the Lord. A genuine encounter with the Lord must necessarily bring about a transformation that calls for a new direction in life. It is therefore not surprising that Saul, trembling and astonished, enquired from the Lord what He wanted him to do.

You may have been very busy preaching and teaching the word of God as a preacher, Sunday school teacher or youth leader in the church. This is all good, but how much time do you spend with the Lord to build a strong intimacy with Him and growth in your personal life? Maybe it is time for you to ask the Lord, ” What wilt thou have me to do?” I am sure the Lord would want you to spend quality time with Him in prayer, and in the study of His Word. He would desire personal quality time with you, that will lead to a solid and sustainable fellowship with Him.

“What wilt thou have me to do, Lord?” Maybe it is time to gather your family together to spend time in prayer and in the study of His Word. (Deut. 31:12-13). God would have you get your family grounded in the Word of God. He may want you to protect and manage your marriage and home well. As a husband, the Lord would have you love your wife, and for the wife to respect her husband. (1 Peter 3:7; Ephesians 5:22-25). The Lord would want you to build a strong and a solid Christian home where father, mother and children gather to read the Bible and pray together.

“What wilt thou have me to do, Lord?” Maybe in your case, the Lord expects you to respond to a call into the ministry of preaching the gospel. For some of us, the Lord expects us to renew our commitment to the cause of Christ, and be faithful to the things that matter to the Lord. What wilt thou have me to do, Lord? The Lord’s response might be for you to forgive those who have hurt you and get reconciled to them, in order to enjoy true peace and joy in your life.

Saul asked a very searching and provoking question: “.. Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” The Lord’s response was: “ARISE AND GO… AND IT SHALL BE TOLD THEE WHAT THOU MUST DO”. May you hear the voice of the Lord in response to your question, and may He give you clear direction as to what He wants you to do. The Lord may want you to give Him your time, talent and treasure for the service of the Lord.

In your present circumstances, where you are confronted with challenges and uncertainties without any certain solution, your question might be “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” I pray that the Lord’s response would be: trust me and cast your cares upon me, for I care for you. (1 Peter 5:6-7).

Paul’s question clearly points to the fact that he recognised the Lordship of Christ after his never-to- be-forgotten encounter with the Lord.

The recognition of the Lordship of Christ will cause every believer to want to serve the Lord by doing something for Him, in view of all that He has done for us. May you have the pleasure of serving the Lord by asking: Lord, what do you want me to do? and be ready to arise quickly to do His bidding, as Paul did.

It is my prayer that each one of us will ask the Lord what He would have us do this year, and may we do as He tells us for His glory and for our joy. Shalom.

OUR PRAYER
Sometimes I get frustrated and unsure of what you want me to do for you, or the changes you expect in my life. So, Lord, my question is: “What wilt thou have me to do? Please Lord, show me the way to go. Amen.