Bible Study "A-Ha" Moment - Obedience

Obedience

At Bible Study last week, we had a collective "A-Ha" moment.  It also tied into what Pastor talked about in his message last Sunday.   And the topic - 

 

Last Sunday, Pastor was digging into Romans 12:13. "Contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality."  Short and sweet, yet there's so much in this little verse.  We are called to do these things by God - contributing to others and being hospitable to one another.   God calls us to obedience to His Word, whether he explains it to us or not.  Just do it!

 Our A-Ha moment at Bible study happened when we were studying Acts 25. 

Background:

Here's what's happened right before Acts 25.  First Paul had been brought before the Sanhendrin (Jewish ruling council) at Jersusalem. (Acts 23).   They could not agree on the charges against Paul, so he was sent to Caesarea and to go before the Roman Procurator (Governor) Felix.  Felix also could not make a ruling, so he kept Paul imprisoned there (although he had some freedoms) for 2 years.   Festus suceeded Felix and now Paul was brought before Festus.  During Paul's appeal before Festus, Paul asked to be brought before Caesar.  He did not want to go back to Jerusalem, for several reasons.  The main one being that God had told Paul that he must go to Rome. 

Acts 23:11:

¹¹ But on the following night, the Lord stood near him and said, “Be courageous! For as you have testified to the truth about Me in Jerusalem, so you must testify in Rome also.”

Paul had many options when he stood before Festus, but Paul was obedient to the Lord's instruction and asked to go before Caesar in Rome.  Paul didn't ask why - he just obeyed.   

The Connection:

In the backstory of Acts 25, the Jewish "mob" wanted Paul to be sent back to Jerusalem so they could attack him on the road and kill him.  It seems from the context that Paul probably did not know about this plot.  It would have been an easier, more logical choice from Paul's point of view to go to Jerusalem.  Yet Paul made his case to go to Rome, because that's what the Lord told him to do.  Being obedient to the Lord, saved Paul's life.

Application for Today:

Just do it!   If the Lord tells you to do something, just do it.  Don't wait until you understand the "why" of it.

And how do we know if the Lord tells us to do something?   

See my blog post of May 2 regarding a renewed mind