What's Next?

Daily Reading:  Acts 22

And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’ (Acts 22.10)

Devotional Thought: When Paul met Jesus, he immediately understood that there was something more: There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.  Meeting Jesus was not the end.  It was the beginning.

Recently it has been my privilege on two separate occasions to pray with 2 men, whom the Spirit was drawing to new life in Christ.  One of them said to me, “What’s next?  If I do this [get saved] what do I do next?”  He was indicating to me that he knew things would be different.  He wanted to know how life would change for him and what he could expect as a follower of Jesus and – this was important to him – what would be expected of him.  The other said something similar: “I believe those things [that Jesus is the Son of God and that he died for my sins and that I can be saved through faith in him], but I want to live like I believe it.”  Again indicating that he understood that there was something more to do after making a decision to follow Christ.

Jesus himself indicated as much:

Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men. (Mark 1.17)

If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. (Luke 9.23)

Following Jesus is less about making a decision and more about leading a life.  And when you meet Jesus, you will be told all that you have been appointed to do… But, understand that it is a life-long process.  We don’t get it all in one dose.  One “What’s next?” is followed by another, followed by another, followed by another.

Prayer: What shall I do, Lord?  What's next?  Speak to me, by your Spirit, through your Word, and in the voice of others whom you send.  Give me grace and courage to follow all the "what's nexts" that you bring into my life.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 76:8-12

8 From the heavens you uttered judgment; the earth feared and was still,

9 when God arose to establish judgment, to save all the humble of the earth. Selah

10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise you; the remnant of wrath you will put on like a belt.

11 Make your vows to the LORD your God and perform them; let all around him bring gifts to him who is to be feared,

12 who cuts off the spirit of princes, who is to be feared by the kings of the earth.