Maggz

We cannot see God's plan in all its fullness. Confident in our own abilities, we seek to do the big, earth-shaking things and we are not content with a more minor role, when we are expected to "be" rather than to "do", to rest in God's presence and wait to hear his will. Basically, patience is important because God knows best. He knows what our abilities are, and in which areas we still need to improve. Only through submitting to His will can we grow in the Christian faith. In any area of work, a person must be trained before he or she can accept responsibility. Part of this training is becoming open to God's prompting, to listening for His voice. He knows what is best for us, and we can only achieve our full potential through His guidance.

God had just promised Abram what seemed impossible - that in his old age he would father a nation. Yet this very impossibility is possible with God. Only when Abraham was able to put disbelief aside, and believe in God's ability to do anything, i.e. when be developed a trusting faith, could he come into a right relationship with God. Like Abraham, one has to believe in the impossible, made possible in God. If we study all the references in the Bible to righteousness by faith, we have to accept the astounding fact that Christ, in dying, washed away our sins. Because He did this, if we believe in Him, we can move into a relationship of righteousness with God, but we must first put aside all disbelief and trust in God's promises, which will never fail. Only our lack of faith can cause failure. Trusting Christ means many things: One must believe in His promises; follow His commands (no matter how impossible they may seem); listen for His voice; comb His word for His will and put all our faith in Him that all He does is for our good and that His plan is the only one. It means giving up our independence to some extent and following His prompting to discover His way and not ours.

The Bible is full of examples of characters who have been convinced that they could go their own way, and have been brought to their knees in the realization of their total dependence on God e.g. Joseph, the Israelites of the Exodus, Jonah, Peter and Paul himself, to name only a few. Following Christ is not a question of "following the rules", but of handing ourselves over to His will in joyful surrender. Only when we cease to glory in our own righteousness and say with the Psalmist "The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken and contrite heart" (Ps. 51:17), can we begin to know and trust Him, and then we will find that rules do not matter anymore, because out of the love in our hearts we follow His way. It is much easier to "say prayers" than to listen for God's voice; to decide that our way is the best rather than seeking God's way; to follow the easier path of legalism than to trust God. I have been guilty of all these and more, and the resulting spiritual pride has often held me back from a true trust and dependence on God.

(a)

God sent Ananias to Paul rather than revealing directly because not only did Ananias relay the message, but he was also able to welcome Paul into the Christian community. This also meant that the Christian community was informed of the change in Paul's life, and was ready to welcome him, as they might not have been had they not had this foreknowledge. Ananias argued with God because, knowing Paul's reputation, he was fearful. It takes courage to obey because we so often do not believe that God knows best, and we prefer to use our own judgement. It is a step into the unknown in faith, and that is frightening. Ananias laid hands on him - the Christian act of blessing and transference of the Holy Spirit. He prayed with him and explains that he is the emissary of Christ, and does not come in his own strength. In welcoming him to the Christian fellowship, he explains what will happen - that he will regain his sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Yes, I have felt these promptings. Sometimes, like Ananias, I have not had the courage. But when I have overcome this, I have discovered that the blessing falls not only on the person to whom I ministered, but on myself as well.

Greetings to all. My name is Margaret, and I am from the Eastern Cape, South Africa. I look forward to this study - the first I have done through Jesuswalk, although I have done other studies previously.