“Earlier this morning,” Stan began, “I was again looking at the story of what happened when the apostle Paul, who was then known as Saul, was on his way to Damascus to persecute Christians.”
“Jesus interrupted his journey big time,” I responded.
“Not only his journey,” Stan replied, “but his life and his eternal destination.”
Continuing, he added, “And I see a parallel between what Jesus said to him and what God says to me every single day.”
“Which part of what Jesus said?” I asked. “Where He asked Saul why he was persecuting Him?”
“No,” Stan replied, “it’s what happened after that.”
“What was that?”
“Quick recap,” Stan replied. “Jesus appeared like a flash of light from heaven; Saul was knocked to the ground; and then Jesus wanted to know why Saul was persecuting Him.”
Continuing, he said, “After that comes the part I hear every morning. Jesus told Saul to get up and go to where Jesus had for him to go in order to hear what he, Saul, was to do.”
“You hear that every morning?” I asked.
“Sure do,” Stan replied. “Just like Saul couldn’t continue on to Damascus without getting up, God wakes me and says it’s time to get up and go where He has for me to go so I can hear what He has to say.”
“The only difference I see,” he continued, “is that Jesus told Saul to go on to the City of Damascus, whereas I am told to go to the “city” of my time with God. Saul would be told what he was to do; and the same is true with me.”
“And what’s that?” I asked.
“The specifics are different for me each day,” Stan replied, “but the point is always the same. I am to continue in my ever-deepening relationship with God.”
“Out of that relationship,” he continued, “I am told what it is I am to do in being who I am intended to be.”
“Kind of like working out the salvation that has been worked in?” I asked.
“Not just ‘kind of like’,” Stan replied. “Exactly like!”
“But the first step,” I responded, “is for you to get up. Is that the point?”
“That’s it,” Stan replied. “For me, it’s essential that I get out of bed and go to the ‘city’ so I can hear what it is God has for me to do as I work out the salvation He has worked in!”
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Rise and enter the city, and it shall be told you what you must do. Acts of the Apostles 9:6.
Work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:12, 13.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, that you want to tell me what it is you have for me to do in response to your free and gracious provision of salvation. Thank you, too, for making it clear that I have to be where you want me to be in order to hear what you have to tell me. I confess that too often I am not where you want me to be because I choose to be elsewhere. Please help me in following your lead to where you intend for me to be, doing what you want, wherever and whatever that may be. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Do you have a time each day when you go to the “city” of spending time with God to hear what He has to say to you? If you do, what is that time like? If you don’t, why? Also, if you do not, would you like to have such a time each day? Do you think it’s important to hear what God has for you to do? Why or why not? If you think it is important and you would like to have that sort of time with God, do you know how it can happen?
Waiting for the Train 