The Nautical Flare Gun

[Van]

Back in the day, seafaring folk used a "flare gun" to call for assistance when in need, desperate need, on the high seas. Before GPS and long distance radio and satellite communications, they would fire off flares into the sky, hoping someone would see and heed their call for help.

People unstudied in Prayer might too often use prayer as a nautical flare gun, God please do something for me to mitigate my affliction.

But as we grow, hopefully, more mature, and go beyond our rote or formulaic prayer routine, we might paraphrase JFK, and ask not what God can do for us, but what we can do for God.

When we ask God to guide us, if we do not engage in prayerful study of His word, we might as well fire up a flare (prayer) gun.

I saw a recent Star Trek Voyager episode where Seven of Nine would ask questions, but then not listen for the answer.

We speak to God through prayer, but God mostly speaks to us through His word.

 

[Van]

When more than one description of an event is found in scripture, often some detail may be found in one or more descriptions but not in all of them.

Paul's Damascus Road experience is a case in point. After Paul ends up on the ground he asks "Who are you Lord? Then Jesus tells Paul to get up and do what He commands. This is found in Acts 9:5-6, and in Acts 26-15-16.

However, a third recounting of this event appears in Acts 22:8-10 which includes an additional detail. Paul's response when Jesus identifies Himself. Paul says, What shall I do, Lord!

Now Paul as you know is our "Prototype Missionary", who followed Christ's directions as his Lord through all manner of difficulty.

When we consider someone like JOJ, of how he has poured out his life in service to our Lord, or a Pastor who helped guide us into the paths of righteousness, we should realize Christ's servants not only ask "what shall I do" but listen, then trust and obey.