WHAT SHALL I DO, LORD?: THE PERSONAL COMMITMENT
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. What Shall I Do, Lord?
a) Paul was travelling to Damascus to persecute Christians. Jesus confronted him. Paul yielded and asked, 'What shall I do Lord?' Paul switched to a personal commitment, an obedient response, and a loyal subjection.
Acts 22:6-10
6 “But it happened that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus about noontime, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me, 7 and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ 8 And I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’ 9 And those who were with me saw the light, to be sure, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me. 10 And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Get up and go on into Damascus, and there you will be told of all that has been appointed for you to do.’"
2. The Personal Commitment
a) Paul didn't ask, “What will you do, Lord?” He knew that the foremost question to be answered was, “What shall I do, Lord?” It's all very well to talk in terms of “you”, and “we”, and “they”. But the first question to ask is the one with the first person pronoun, “I”.
b) Paul later wrote,"We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ... Each of us shall give to God an account of self." (Romans 14:10-12). We won't be giving an account of someone else, just of self.
c) It's right for us to encourage others to a personal commitment to Christ, but our priority is dedication of self. Jesus said, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back, is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62). Only a constant personal commitment to Christ will do.
d) As Paul’s journey to Damascus ended, a new journey began — a lifelong journey of dedicated service and self commitment to the Lord Jesus. At the end of that journey Paul wrote, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7).
The End ...
1. What Shall I Do, Lord?a) Paul was travelling to Damascus to persecute Christians. Jesus confronted him. Paul yielded and asked, 'What shall I do Lord?' Paul switched to a personal commitment, an obedient response, and a loyal subjection.
Acts 22:6-10
6 “But it happened that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus about noontime, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me, 7 and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ 8 And I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’ 9 And those who were with me saw the light, to be sure, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me. 10 And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Get up and go on into Damascus, and there you will be told of all that has been appointed for you to do.’"
2. The Personal Commitment
a) Paul didn't ask, “What will you do, Lord?” He knew that the foremost question to be answered was, “What shall I do, Lord?” It's all very well to talk in terms of “you”, and “we”, and “they”. But the first question to ask is the one with the first person pronoun, “I”.
b) Paul later wrote,"We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ... Each of us shall give to God an account of self." (Romans 14:10-12). We won't be giving an account of someone else, just of self.
c) It's right for us to encourage others to a personal commitment to Christ, but our priority is dedication of self. Jesus said, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back, is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62). Only a constant personal commitment to Christ will do.
d) As Paul’s journey to Damascus ended, a new journey began — a lifelong journey of dedicated service and self commitment to the Lord Jesus. At the end of that journey Paul wrote, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7).
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