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Who Are You Rushing To?
Jon Burgess15But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him 16to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles.When this happened, I did not rush out to consult with any human being. 17Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went away into Arabia, and later I returned to the city of Damascus.
Galatians 1:15-17
The story of Paul's conversion is breathtaking. The blinding light of Jesus on the road to Damascus. The miraculous healing of his blind eyes through the prayers of Ananias. The introduction from Barnabas to the Church. Saul the persecutor of Christians was now Paul the follower of Christ. Paul bringing the Gospel to the Gentiles and planting churches everywhere he went. What a powerful story of redemption. A narrative that continuously inspires me. Yet, through all of these years, I have missed an important part of the story. Paul's recounting of His conversion to the church in Galatia reveals an interlude in the story. This crucial season of isolation with the Lord was where He received the download of the Saviors heart. This learned man now saw scripture in a whole new light through the illumination that comes from isolation with God. In contrast to the accusation of his critics, Paul didn't get what he taught and preached from the other leaders in Jerusalem. He didn't get his approval from man. In fact Galatians 1:18 reveals that it was only after three years in Damascus that he first made the acquaintance of Peter and then James. This time of solitude with the Savior resulted in what Acts 9:22 describes as a season of recalibration, refreshing, refocusing and a complete reversal of the path he had been headed in.
As I sit in my office interacting with the Spirit of God through the Word of God I am surrounded with many other options vying for attention. Good and reputable options. My book shelves are filled with the words and wisdom of men and women of God much wiser and more studied then I. At the mere click of an App I can also access the World Wide Web of wisdom from those who have sat at the feet of Jesus and have been anointed to lead His Church. In fact, around this table where I journal are some amazing leaders from New Hope who I have much to learn from. The question is not IF I should do this, but WHEN! It would be sheer foolishness to not avail myself of the wise counsel around me and available to me. The problem comes when I inquire of others before I inquire of the Lord. It's when the answers of others precede the answers of my Lord that I lose the power of the interlude. I end up living off of someone else's fresh bread instead of receiving my own straight from the Savior on a daily basis. Paul did not rush off to consult with godly men before rushing into a continuous uninterrupted conversation with Christ... but I often will do exactly that!
Who have I been rushing off to before rushing off to You Lord? No one can cultivate the spiritual disciplines of silence, solitude and surrender for me. This interlude in the story, this breathing room for the soul, this transformation of my spiritual trajectory can only come from time alone with You. If I'm not careful I will begin to look to man for identity and approval instead of You. The godly ones You have put around me and over me are a source of confirmation for my instructions rather then origin of them. I receive from Your Spirit and Scripture in the interlude and then confirm what I've heard is sound through my brothers and sisters in Christ. Lord, You must continue to be my constant and primary source. You must be the One I rush off to when faced with insane situations, impossible scenarios, and insurmountable odds. Forgive me for rushing to others before rushing to You. You are my interlude that impacts my entire story from here on out!
