Nougat 27

Sometimes when we are sent, we forget that we are sent by God. It becomes important to turn to God and familiarise ourselves with God’s purpose. This includes us speaking only as directed. This was God’s strategy for the disciples at Pentecost. Consider Today’s Holy Nougat

Acts 2:4 CEVDCI

[4] The Holy Spirit took control of everyone, and they began speaking whatever languages the Spirit let them speak.

Sent… under God’s Directive

There was once a well-mannered beggar on the streets. He was most courteous before begging and he addressed those he begged as Management. I haven’t yet figured out if that was related to him seeing his begging as work, in which case we were his bosses; or if he was simply being respectful. Whatever his intentions were, I was confident of one thing: as management, my decision regarding his request was final. Unfortunately for him, that sometimes meant the response was a ‘No’.

Self-Check

What motivates the decisions we make in respect to others?

Digging Deeper

As I reread our Nougat, it registered to me that the logic which governed my decisions regarding the beggar also applies to God. As Management (i.e., the one in total control of our lives), God’s decision ought to be final. When God sends us, God knows where we’re being sent and why. Like the beggar, we might not be sure of the outcome. However, we are assured that God has a good plan for us (see Jeremiah 29). And with God, that plan usually isn’t singular – it involves others.

In seeing that bigger, interconnected picture; God knows what needs to be said and done to impact the lives of others. Even in our trials. We recall Y’shua saying in Matthew 10:18-20; Luke 12:11-12 and Mark 13:11, that we will be given just the right words when we go before councils (which I’ve interpreted to mean ‘before the courts for trial’). Siblings, if God permits us to go through particular situations, it suggests that

a) God believes we are ready for the situation before us; and

b) God has already prepared what we ought (/not) to say.

Now, God’s sense of our readiness has little or nothing to do with our own feelings. We don’t even have to carry the natural capacity. God can opt to equip us for a task, even to the extent of blessing us with (technical) languages to impact another. Yes, God rolls like that sometimes. It may even be a specific gesture.

Because God already knows the end, God is ready beforehand with the ‘script’ required for our encounters. (As one who, since Covid-19 struck the globe, has been involved in extensive webinar planning, I realise that good webinars are planned in detail, even without knowing exactly what will be said. We can imagine just how many more details God includes, because God knows us intimately.) Since God’s plan has the broader view, it truly is in our interest to take our cues from God. Both for what to say and do, or not.

As people sent by God, we must be in a position to hear God. Let us ensure that we are aligned and attuned to God, Whose plan is to give us – and those to whom we’re sent – hope for the future.

Point to Ponder

Are we truly tuned in to hear God’s directions? May we follow God’s script in all aspects of our lives.

—

May all we seek be found in Christ