“As I’ve said to you more than once,” Stan commented one morning, “I think the apostle Paul was uniquely gifted by God to say a whole lot in just a few words.”
“Saying a lot in a few words,” I replied. “That’s better than saying nothing in a whole bunch of words!”
“You’re right,” Stan said, “and what I saw earlier this morning when I was looking at Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus is another example of one of his zingers I think was aimed right at me.”
“Right at you? What’d he have to say?”
“Don’t be foolish, but understand the will of God.”
“Don’t be foolish, but understand the will of God,” I repeated. “That sounds like it could cover a lot of ground!”
“Sure does,” Stan replied. “Especially with me.”
“You?” I said. “How’s it apply to you?”
“Every time I go off on my own, doing what I want to do apart from God without even seeking to understand His will for me, I’m being foolish.”
“I can see,” I replied, “how that might apply to just about everyone.”
“Might apply?” Stan asked with a smile. “I know for a fact that it does apply to me, and I also know the solution is to do what Jesus said in being a disciple.”
“What’s that?”
“Deny what I want to do in being foolish,” Stan replied, “then take up what He has for me to take up in understanding His will for me, then comes the third step of following Him.”
“Wherever, however, and whenever,” I said. “Is that it?”
“That’s it,” Stan replied, “and remember the ‘whenever’ is always!”
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Bible verses to consider:
So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Ephesians 5:17.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2.
And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Luke 9:23.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for convicting me by the truth of your word. You say clearly that you want me to stop being foolish and to seek to understand your will for me. I confess that too often I don’t do that because I want to do what I want to do apart from you. That is foolishness, and I ask you to forgive me. Please help me in not being foolish and in following every step of your lead into your perfect will for me in all things, all of the time. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Have you stopped being foolish in rejecting God’s provision for you to spend eternity in His presence when it’s time? If no, why? What’s keeping you being foolish in that way? If you are a Christian, how are you doing in not being foolish by truly seeking God’s will for every aspect of your life? If you can see that you are foolish in that way and want to change, how is that going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?
Waiting for the Train 