“And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’ Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.”
When God Calls Us to Shift
We spoke about signs to shift last Sunday, and the apostle Paul was well acquainted with that. On his second missionary journey, he was forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the Word in Asia, and he was not permitted to go into Bithynia. So he went to Troas. The text tells us of the shift that took place there at Troas in our focus scripture, Acts 16:9-10.Paul responded immediately, and the result was the founding of several churches in Macedonia, including the church at Philippi, a church with which he had a very special relationship.
Obedience Over Opinion and Trusting God’s Timing
So too, we will be called from time to time to shift, to make shifts in our plans, even plans related to ministry, because shifts are a necessary aspect of the Christian life. And shifts that do not cost us anything are not difficult to make, but those that come with a cost can be challenging. We have heard that we must put obedience over opinion. We must walk by faith, not by sight, and we must trust God’s timing. Trust and obey. There is no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.
A Personal Testimony of Costly Obedience
We are to trust and obey at all times. I can relate to shifts that are challenging to make. When I started working at New York City Transit, my plan was to work for thirty years if I was in good health, or for a minimum of twenty-five years if I had health issues. The longer I stayed on the job, the more my retirement benefits would be. Well, after 21 years on the job, I began sensing that the Lord was prompting me to retire. A few months later, I knew for sure that He wanted me to retire. The only thing I did not know was when to retire. But that, too, was revealed to me, and just before completing my twenty-second year, I retired.
Pastor Rod said that we are to set up scales to weigh our options. My financial scale was heavily in favor of me continuing to work, but I knew for sure that God wanted me to retire, and that outweighed everything. He also said that we must put obedience over opinion and trust the timing of the Lord. Once I was absolutely sure that God wanted me to retire, I was ready to do so in spite of not knowing what my future would entail.
I could not give a definite answer when people asked what I was going to do after retirement. Many assumed I would be traveling a lot or taking a lot of cruises, but I had no idea what I was going to do. And God’s timing was not my timing.
I wanted to work just a few more months to complete my 22nd year, just a few months, but the day God gave me was non-negotiable. He would not allow me to add even a few months.
We are to trust God’s timing and not procrastinate when He prompts us to make shifts in our lives. Unlike Paul, who knew exactly what the Lord wanted him to do in Macedonia, I had no clue what God wanted me to do after retirement. But I knew for sure that He wanted me to retire.
Shifts are a necessary aspect of life. When we are prompted to shift, we must remember that obedience is better than sacrifice. Even when a shift comes with a cost, when you are certain that it is God who is instigating the shift, the cost does not matter.
Because I was obedient in responding to that shift in my life, the past ten years have been the best years of my life on this side of eternity. I can only imagine what life on the other side of eternity will be like, but even my imagination will pale in comparison to reality.
Exhortation and Prayer
So if you believe that you are being prompted to make a shift in your life, take the steps that have been given. Take it to the Lord and set up scales. What He requires of you may come with a great cost, but walk by faith knowing that God is a faithful provider.
Put obedience over opinion, trust God’s timing, and do not procrastinate. Procrastination is the thief of time. Trust and obey, for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus.
Always remember that shifts are a necessary aspect of the Christian life. Do not be surprised when they come. Amen. Amen.
Father God, we thank You for Your Word this morning. Remind us that as we make our plans, You have a better plan for us. Help us to remain ready and flexible to change when prompted by You.
In spite of uncertainty, help fear not to stop us from responding with a yes to Your will. You have said that if we ask, You will guide us. You do not want us to abandon reason or understanding, but to trust that You are directing every aspect of our lives.
You love us unconditionally, and You would never call us to something without preparing us—or preparing us along the way—to accomplish what You have assigned. It is You who works in us both to will and to do according to Your good pleasure. So we thank You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.