Quite often I become a bit agitated hearing so much about God’s timing.
Acts 9:6 – And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
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I hear so much talk about God’s timing. I truly believe most of such discussion has become an excuse for so many who are not willing to make necessary preparation for the Lord to work. Allow me to explain. It was Abraham who prophesied that Israel would be in Egypt 400 years, and then they would come out. Yet it was 430 years. Was Abraham wrong? Did God miss it? NOT AT ALL! God’s plan was 400 years, but Moses’ action in killing the Egyptian put God’s plan in arrears by 30 years. You see, the WHEN of Israel’s coming out of Egypt was not a matter of God’s timing, but of WHAT one of the key players, Moses, did on his own.
And what of Abraham. When Father called him from Ur of the Chaldees, He spoke NOTHING to Abram of a time, or schedule. All Father said to Abram was about WHAT Abram was to do. The WHEN was not of God’s establishing, but of WHAT Abram did. When Abram had fully carried out the WHAT, the WHEN took place.
And consider our Text for Today. The fulfilling of God’s call upon and vision in Paul (Saul) was not an appointment at a certain time. Rather its activation, and future fulfillment as a matter of Paul’s obedience to the voice of the Lord and the heavenly vision God gave him. God did NOT tell Paul WHEN he would be told, but WHAT he had to do to receive the instruction. He was told to go into Damascus where he would be told. Note closely our Text for Today. There was NO WHEN given; only a WHAT to do.
Now I offer you some thoughts for consideration. What has God called you to do? To come out from captivity? To leader others from captivity? To go into the world at some level – Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, or the uttermost part of the world? I know He has called you to SOMETHING. So, what is it for which you are waiting? Are you waiting for a time when something happens? When something is provided? When some circumstance is in place as you see it needs to be? My friend, could it be that the issue is NOT WHEN something happens, or WHEN something is provided, or WHEN circumstances are in a specified condition? I would ask you to consider that many, if not most, of the WHEN issues with God are NOT a matter of His timing, but a matter of WHAT you are doing to make it possible for Him to release YOU and HIS POWER IN YOU into the earth. Do WHAT you should do, and WHEN you’ve done it, Father is ready.
Manna for Today – Acts 9:1-18; Genesis 12:1; Genesis 15:13; Galatians 3:17
My Second Miler by Dr. Beechard Moorefield 