“On one of these journeys (to foreign cities to persecute Christians), I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’” (Acts 26:12-14)
Goads were wooden poles with a sharp spike at one end used to prod obstinate oxen in the field. The ox would sometimes kick back against the goads, causing more pain. Based on God’s words to Saul (Paul), He had been leading Paul to Himself for many years. Paul kicked against the goads by hunting Christians and persecuting them. No doubt, Paul drank a lot of wine to lessen his buried guilt.
The light blinded Paul, so he needed help traveling the Road to Damascus. Damascus means sack of blood or life. We, too, are blind while we travel our life roads, but God has cleared our paths and has solved our problems before we encounter them. We’ll live our best life if we listen and hold tightly to our Guiding Shepherd.
Father, I praise You for Jesus. Let His words and the Holy Spirit guide me. If I leave the path you’ve cleared for me, goad me back. I believe that if I listen to You, I’ll live my best life and accomplish my dreams. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.
If we are going down the path of our life, sometimes we don’t hear God talking to us. I think this could be intentional on God’s part because He wants us to make our own choices. If we make our own choice we need to learn to take responsibility, whether it turns out well or it turns out to be less than a great choice. People do not want to take responsibility for doing something wrong, but don’t we learn from those mistakes?
I think God wants to be involved in any choice that’s important enough to pray about. You’re right that sometimes we don’t hear God speaking to us, and we should be patient enough to wait until we do. When we make choices apart from God, again you’re right, we need to take responsibility and ask God to work out our mess. We always learn from our mistakes. Hopefully we learn to consult God and listen next time.
We had to make a quick choice on buying the river house, so I asked God to not let us get the house if it wasn’t meant for us. Sam has always talked about making pottery in his retirement. It is the only hobby he has expressed interest in. So God gave me extra comfort when the house came with a kiln and a clay press.
You didn’t tell me about the kiln and clay press. That is God speaking to you loud and clear!
Sometimes you learn things about my life when you read my devotions. Keeps you reading. Don’t know what I’d do without your support!