And the Lord said, "Who will entice Ahab into attacking Ramoth Gilead
and going to his death there?" One suggested this, and another that.
1 Kings 22:20
There are few times we get a glimpse of what goes on in Heaven. Here is
one instance when the angels were conferring with the Lord about the
judgment of King Ahab for his sin and who was going to set up Ahab for
this judgment.
If God wanted to use you to impact your world for Jesus Christ, what
circumstances would have to be created in order for you to respond to
His call? Would prospering you materially encourage you to this end?
Would a major change in what you are presently doing be necessary? What
would your response be should God and the angels conclude that the only
way to move you into a position of fulfilling God's purposes was to
remove some things that might be very dear to you? Would you agree with
their plan if you knew this would be the only way you would achieve the
purposes for which God made you? Hard questions, aren't they?
This is the very thing God does in many who have been called for a
special mission. Moses had to be stripped of his royal position in the
family of Egypt and sit in the desert for 40 years. The apostle Paul had
to be knocked off his horse, blinded, and receive a personal visitation
from Jesus. The 12 disciples had to leave their jobs for three years to
follow Christ. Imagine what kind of disruption this had on their lives.
There are many examples of God bringing major upheaval in the lives of
those He called for His purposes. Why?
The reason is that we do not seek God with a whole heart in times of
prosperity and comfort. Prosperity and comfort tend to breed complacency
and satisfaction. It is rare to find the man or woman who seeks God with
a whole heart who does so simply from a grateful heart. We often must
have pain or crisis to motivate us. Eventually, that crisis bridges us
to a new calling, and we embrace that calling if we are open to the Holy
Spirit's work in us. We can actually thank God for the change that was
required to get us to this place, but it is not without anguish of
heart.
Would you be willing to sit in the strategic planning session for your
life and agree with the plans God has for your life? Could you give God
complete freedom to implement that plan, no matter the cost? Ask God to
give you the grace and trust in His love for you to say "yes."
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