Acts 9:6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what will you have me to do? And the Lord said to him, Arise, and go into the city… He who had come from heaven, and had stooped to conquer the heart of the proud Pharisee, must have a purpose in all this. To know that purpose is Paul's chief desire. It is only when the will is surrendered to the will of Christ, and Christ is taken as Saviour and Lord, that the life of God begins to grow in us. Viewing this subject broadly in relation to ourselves, let us learn first — I. HOW DESIRABLE IT IS THAT WE SHOULD ALL HAVE FROM THE BEGINNING THE PLAN OF OUR LIFE CLEARLY BEFORE US. No work of any kind can be effectively done without a plan. The mind necessarily proceeds to action after processes of thought, prevision, anticipation of results and foreseen obstacles. Instinct acts from immediate impulse. The man who dispenses with purpose in action, and lives for the occasion, has no certainty, or consistency, is the slave of every passing impulse, and accomplishes little in the battle of life. If all nature were not bound together by a plan, it would be a chaos, in which kingdom would war against kingdom, and all would end in disaster. If the history of a country do not proceed upon a plan in which successive generations cooperate, there is no cumulative progress in its life. The Hebrew race followed a plan. Why was Carlyle able to accomplish so much and so well as a historian? Because in early days he selected his precise vocation as a historian, and settling down in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, he, year after year, with growing power and speciality, dealt with the events of those times in his lives of Cromwell and of Frederick, and his history of the French Revolution. Why was Darwin able to effect so much for science? Because he recognised early in life as his special destiny the study of living forms, and the conditions of their existence, and gave all his life to that branch of science. Such a habit saves us from the weakening effect of distracting aims. It raises us above the power of opposing circumstances. It stimulates activity. It produces dependence upon God. It develops energy. II. THE PLAN OF OUR LIFE IS IN THE MIND OF CHRIST. He alone has the knowledge, power, all-embracing sympathy, patience, and perfection to make the plan blessed for us and for all. III. JESUS CHRIST PROGRESSIVELY UNFOLDS TO HIS DISCIPLES HIS LIFE PLAN FOR THEM. He did so to Paul. But it was revealed through Ananias, a general outline — the details after. Christ's plan is adapted to our capacity — as strength grows we grasp it more clearly. IV. THE WILL OF CHRIST MAYBE CERTAINLY KNOWN BY US. Paul in this case did. In most of his subsequent experiences he knew the mind of Christ in truth and conduct. May we know the will of Christ certainly in these days? Yes! We have the words of Christ. We have the Spirit of truth. We know certain facts in nature and laws in science. We may also have spiritual certainty. V. TIMES WHEN WE SHOULD SPECIALLY BREATHE THIS PRAYER. 1. When burdened by sin. 2. When seeking the blessedness of a higher life. 3. When our way is uncertain. Such prayer will be answered. God's will be made plain by obedience. (J. Matthews.) Parallel Verses KJV: And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.WEB: But rise up, and enter into the city, and you will be told what you must do." |
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