September 22, 2022

Acts 20: 27 (NIV)

“You know that I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.”

We need to focus on and proclaim what God has plainly revealed – even when it’s unpopular – and trust him with what we don’t know.*

There are a lot of differences between me and the Apostle Paul. In this one sentence we find two ways that he and I are not alike.

· Did not hesitate. When have I not hesitated to speak up for the Lord? It’s easy for me to “talk straight” to my readers; not so much face-to-face. Why do I hesitate? I’m not ashamed, not afraid, and not even concerned about whether people like me or not. Am I hesitant because I want to say the right thing? Because it feels too personal? Why do you hesitate? 

· Knew the whole will of God. Maybe Paul wasn’t afraid to proclaim the whole will of God because he knew it. Such knowledge would produce confidence, wouldn’t it? If I don’t know the whole will of God, why don’t I?

I have concluded, after prayerful analysis of my inadequacies that: 

· It doesn’t matter why I hesitate. Hesitation in itself isn’t such a bad thing if it is a sign of thoughtfulness. Hesitating to speak is not the same as refusing, neglecting, or forgetting to speak. I am not a preacher (another way that Paul and I differ), but I am not excused from proclaiming. 

· I don’t have to know everything to say something. I know the gospel – the good news of Jesus – and what I’m supposed to do with it. I have a testimony. I may not know the whole will of God but through his Spirit, I know what his will is for me.

If you would like me to share more on this subject, don’t hesitate to ask!

Don’t complicate evangelism.*