Two Dangerous Questions: #2C

Over the years, the women in my life have given me periodic to do lists. My mom’s lists included tasks like clean up your room, write your report, and cut the grass. In contrast, my late wife’s lists included items like pick up a quart of milk, take out the garbage, and clean out the garage.

Although each woman would say, “I’m just trying to be helpful,” I didn’t always receive it that way. Sometimes it seemed like I was being told what to do without input or choice.

But what really irritated me was the question that came the next day. “Did you …?” Truthfully, I often hadn’t completed the task, but I didn’t like being reminded of it.

Perception is everything. The women saw the lists as tasks that needed to be done; I saw them as orders from on high. They saw the reminders as being helpful; I saw them as nothing more than nagging.

The solution was for everyone to adopt a different attitude. We needed to assume that the other person was acting with good intent remembering that Christ calls us to “serve one another in love” (Galatians 5:13c).

When you ask God the dangerous question, “What do you want me to do today?” He may answer in one of two ways. Sometimes He will give you a task to complete – in a sense, a divine to do list.

At other times God will give you a reminder. “Why haven’t you taken care of that task?” Or his reminder may be something unrelated to the tasks. For example, “You spoke too harshly to your spouse this morning. You need to ask for forgiveness.”

Recently I was reading Acts 3:1-10 about Peter healing a crippled beggar. As Peter and John headed into the temple to pray, the beggar asked them for money. “Then Peter said, ‘Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.’” And the man did to the “wonder and amazement” of onlookers.

When I finished reading the passage, I asked God the question. “Lord, what do you want me to do today?” My immediate thought was that although I don’t have a lot of money, I do have some furniture to give away to make room for the furnishings of my bride-to-be, Connie.

I sent an email to the staff members at my church with this subject line: “Free furniture available.” Literally, within 10 minutes I had arranged for 3 people to have my couch, dining room set, and bedroom set. God’s answer to my question, and my obedience to His task, met the needs of several church staff members.

Two days later I read Acts 4:1-31 in which Peter and John are arrested for preaching the Good News. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter gives a bold and courageous defense before the Jewish leaders. The council members were astonished by Peter’s message knowing that Peter and John were “unschooled, ordinary men.”

Eventually the rulers let the apostles go, but “commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.” Peter replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

After asking God my dangerous question, He gave me a reminder. Christians everywhere – including the United States – are increasingly being harassed, and even persecuted. It’s likely that things will get worse in the years ahead. Therefore, be prepared to obey God rather men, no matter what the cost.

Go ahead. Ask God the dangerous question after reading your Bible. God will answer, and His response will usually surprise you – and lead you to a Great Adventure.

© 2012 Designed to Serve