There was this young man called Stephen in the early church. A man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit (Acts6:5). Filled with God's grace and power, he did great wonders and miraculous signs among people (Acts6:8). The learned men in the synagogues could not stand up to his wisdom (Acts6:10). His long sermon found in the book of Acts is testament to his preaching skills. What would such a young man do today? He would be trying to fill his calendar with preaching assignments (that's what preachers do, don't they). He would be busy imitating the mannerisms of the big boys in the business (he has to develop). His preacher dad may share his pulpit with him overlooking some of the seniors (because he has the 'skill'). Not so our man. Stephen was chosen to wait on tables and he submitted to it. Now there's a man recklessly abandoned to the will of God. We think we are working for God and fail to realize that we are not letting God work in us. Be clear on this - God's purpose for you is to make you like Jesus (Rom8:29) and not a big preacher, singer, missionary or what-have-you.
We read about John Baptist in Luke:1. The child was in the desert till the day of his showing forth. Long years of waiting. Oh sure he could have tried to make a move through his 'connections' in the Temple. Remember his dad Zachariah was a priest. He also could have become a priest. If he became a priest he would have a platform to preach. People may at least listen to him. Nope. Not for him the clerical clout or the priestly pamper. He was recklessly abandoned to the will of God. For him was waiting the office of a prophet along with a prison sentence. He would wait “till the day of his shewing unto Israel” (Luke1:80 KJV). He would not hurry his training. He would not act on his own. The Holy Spirit would show him forth unto Israel. He would not mistake his own ambitions for the will of God. Ambitions are better left at the foot of the cross. Abandon is what it takes to be used by God.
When people ask 'how do we find God's will?', I'm tempted to ask them 'why do you want to find God's will?'. Would you still be raring to fulfill it if he told you that it is to wait on tables?
We read about John Baptist in Luke:1. The child was in the desert till the day of his showing forth. Long years of waiting. Oh sure he could have tried to make a move through his 'connections' in the Temple. Remember his dad Zachariah was a priest. He also could have become a priest. If he became a priest he would have a platform to preach. People may at least listen to him. Nope. Not for him the clerical clout or the priestly pamper. He was recklessly abandoned to the will of God. For him was waiting the office of a prophet along with a prison sentence. He would wait “till the day of his shewing unto Israel” (Luke1:80 KJV). He would not hurry his training. He would not act on his own. The Holy Spirit would show him forth unto Israel. He would not mistake his own ambitions for the will of God. Ambitions are better left at the foot of the cross. Abandon is what it takes to be used by God.
When people ask 'how do we find God's will?', I'm tempted to ask them 'why do you want to find God's will?'. Would you still be raring to fulfill it if he told you that it is to wait on tables?
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