“And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God” (Acts 20:22-24).
Ally and Charlie* were a young-professional couple at Hope. Bright and upwardly mobile in their tech and banking careers, they were on the fast track to a beautiful life. However, a few years into their marriage and DINK (dual income, no kids) lifestyle, they felt God lay something radical on their hearts.
That calling led them to leave their high-paying jobs and comfortable life, and landed them in a rural, hostile part of the world; a place where there was more need for agricultural and medical expertise than tech and corporate banking. It was (and still is) a dangerous call.
Stepping out into obedience was a journey for this young couple, much like the apostle Paul in our passage for today. There were those who opposed their calling, saying it was a waste of their gifts and talents. Others were fearful for their lives.
Paul held steadfast to the call God had on his life. He chose to lay down worldly trappings and step into a life of hard obedience. This once highly esteemed scholar found himself defending not the Torah but the direction he was receiving from the Holy Spirit.
Out of fear, well-meaning people may try to talk us out of decisions that don’t seem logical. This isn’t to say wise and Godly counsel shouldn’t be employed. It should. And, as believers, we have a job to do when someone asks for wise counsel. We stop, listen to the Holy Spirit, discern God’s voice, then share what we hear (if appropriate).
Paul recognized the value of counsel and prophetic words. He also noted that every prophetic word confirms challenges and struggles. God, in his generosity, was preparing Paul for the work to come. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the believers who opposed Paul’s journey to Jerusalem came to understand this was not about them, their opinions, or what made them comfortable. This was about the call on a man’s life to share the life-giving Good News.
Here is more good news: Ally and Charlie took the call on their hearts. They left their tech and banking jobs and headed to a remote area of the world. And God has been faithful. He has worked through their hearts as well as their tech and leadership skills for the past 20 years. People in desperate need of Jesus are being saved because one couple leaned into a hard obedience. Praise God they answered the call.
Reflection:
- Have there been times when you experienced others being uncomfortable with your walk with Christ? How did you handle that? Ask Holy Spirit if there is anything you need to know about that season of your life.
- Pray for those who are being sent out into new territories (on mission, in business, with family) and are receiving pushback from family and friends. Pray they would be steadfast in the call God has for their lives.
*Due to the dangerous nature of their mission field, the names of this brave missionary couple have been changed.