“As I began to speak,” Peter continued,” the Holy Spirit fell on them, just as he fell on us at he beginning. Then I thought of the Lord’s words when he said,’ John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ And since God gave these Gentiles the same gift he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to stand in God’s way?” Acts 11:15-15

Who was I to stand in God’s way? This is a question we should all ask ourselves from time to time. God calls us to things and we question and doubt and find a million reasons not to do it. Or maybe we just think we know better. We should be asking, “Who am I to stand in God’s way?”

In our current culture we have suddenly felt as though we can interpret the Bible better than anyone else in history and change God’s words to fit our lifestyles. When God has clearly given us his word to follow and is very clear about what we are to do with his word. We don’t get to question. We just need to follow. After all, who are we to stand in God’s way? When we begin to change the meaning of the Bible and what God is saying to us we are clearly standing in his way. We are standing in the way of the God of the universe. He knows all, sees all and is all things. How can we for a second think that we know more than He knows. Let us get out of God’s way and allow Him to do the work in our lives that He has planned for us. The Bible is the inspired word of God. That means that everything in it has a purpose for our lives not just the lives of the early church. The fact that this verse was put in the Bible isn’t by accident. It was on purpose and therefore to be used in our lives. In all of chapter 11 this one verse jumped out at me,” Who was I to stand in God’s way?” So, are you standing in God’s way today? It’s OK, God forgives you and He loves you, but now that you know, what are you going to do about it?

Prayer

Gracious God, so often I stand in your way. Help me to realize this truth and to acknowledge it so that I can surrender it to you. I pray that now that I have said,” who am I to stand in God’s way?” that I am able to listen when you are trying to tell me to move! You have big plans for us and Your kingdom. I pray that I let you do your work in my life and the lives of others and stop trying to do it for you. By doing so I am in the way. You know better than I do and in the name of Jesus help me to do your will.