Observation's of Paul

We are about to conclude our study on Acts in Sunday school and on sunday we studied acts 24ish....about paul being taken to jail. And he almost seems humbled. Almost. Not excatly...but almost. And we had this discussion about paul's life, and I had one of those lightbulb moments.

So many times in our lives, we want to ask...why God? Why did it happen this way? What is your plan for us Lord? Why? Isnt that the question of man....why? And we want answers so badly. We pray for God's will, and even when we get it....we are unhappy. We want to understand why we must suffer and why we must go through bad times. We want to know how this works for God's plan. If we are doing it right.....

Then I look at paul. Often I have wondered...Why Paul? Why Paul, Lord? He hurt God's people. He was so passionate about everything he did, including hurting God's people. So, Why Paul? Paul was a roman citizen and we see in Acts how that saved his neck a time or two. And once he was changed, he was just as passionate about bringing others to Christ. We see he was beaten or people tried to kill him....in every city he went into. And yet, Paul built the modern day church of the gentiles. So, when we ask....Why Paul? What we are really asking is Why Me? Am I too worthy to serve? What is your plan for me?

This story as a whole is a wonderful one that shows that to every person, God has a plan. We can accept that plan...or turn from it. But God's plan for us is there. We may not always understand it. There is times the world too will flog us. Maybe not physically but mentally beat us down. But no matter what God's plan is for us.... Even through the dark times, God has a plan. If we give ourselves to His will, His plan....He will surely lead us.

As I read these passages in Acts, I was thinking of a hymn. This hymn is a wonderful song....and it always touches me in such a way...

The Spirit Song// Hymn of Promise

In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree;
In cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

There’s a song in every silence, seeking word and melody;
There’s a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity;
In our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity,
In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.