In Acts 26:13-15 – We read the story of the Pharisee Saul, encountering Jesus and changing from being the chief enemy of God into his chief follower.
The verse reads: “I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. 14We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic,a ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied.”
This Arvell Craig with the Monday Morning Devo for March 9, 2015
Recently I have been finding myself, battling with myself.
In fact, I have these words written in my journal: “What’s the point of having a conscience if I don’t obey. What’s the point of having faith, if I don’t step out and say, “he is faithful and he is able. And then proceed to test His grace.”
Today I want to focus on the part, “what the point of having a conscience if I don’t obey.”
When you begin to develop the habit of paying attention to God. To asking for his insights or hearing or being led by the spirit. God will respond.
Sometimes, God will nudge you to correct you regarding unhealthy habits. And other times he will nudge you to get you towards positive decisions that will get you closer to your desires.
In the Damascus road story, where the apostle paul describes how he met Jesus — it’s very interesting how Jesus says, “Paul was kicking against goads.” Kicking against the goads or pricks relates to how farmer prod or poke an ox while plowing a field. It’s an action of minor pain or annoyance to direct them in the certain way.
And so, Jesus implies here that he’s been poking or goading Paul for quite a while now and yet Paul was kicking against Jesus’ prods.
Paul’s encounter with Jesus is not the first attempt… but a last straw after a long time of poking him.
The question for you is, are there things in your life, where you’ve been constantly nudged that you need to make a decision or go a certain direction?
Have you found yourself developing the habit of procrastinating in areas of importance or significance?
Do you feel guilt or does your stomach or conscience naw at you, even in a small but consistent way?
If you are seeking God’s direction or if you are developing your senses to discern what he wants or is doing. I believe he is trying to get your attention. And he isn’t trying just once. But he’ll prod and continue to work on you. So let’s pray that we all not just pay attention, but respond quickly.
Let’s Pray:
Heavenly Father, thank you for your purposes and plans for our lives. Thank you for leading us by your spirit. We are your children, and we know the voice or our father and shepherd.
Help us, this week, to do what we know to do. Help us to respond immediately to your consistent nudges. Give us faith to trust, and humility and obedience to follow where ever you lead, In Jesus’ Name.
Reference: http://www.jesus.org/early-church-history/the-apostle-paul/how-did-paul-kick-against-the-goads.html