Many natural things are “prickly.” Thorns are the natural defense of many roses, orange trees, and weeds. Grabbing hold of a prickly stem results in one letting it go and coming up with another plan.
God uses the “pricks” of uncomfortable moments to change our direction. He did this in Saul’s life as the unsaved but religious man traveled on the road to Damascus.
“And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.” Acts 9:5
Saul had spent much of his life trying to serve God his way. Unfortunately, he did not detect nor heed the “pricks” God sent in His life to put him in the right direction.
Pricks that Saul, later renamed Paul, ignored:
Pricked ears – When Saul heard the preachers of the Gospel, he did all he could to stifle their preaching. Instead of pricking his conscience so he could change his wrong path, it angered him and encouraged him to do more to silence Christians.
Young Saul (Paul) even held the coats of those that stoned the preacher, Stephen. While Saul stood there, he probably heard the Word of God as at other times when he was around Christians. Still, he held to his religion, even when the people of God preached and warned against it.
Pricked eyes – Undoubtedly, he saw Christianity in action. He saw families split, people die, and heartache inflicted. In all the trouble he instigated against Christians, he saw they had a peace that he surely did not have or understand. He was like his name-sake, King Saul, who persecuted righteous David.
Pricks that others ignore:
Pricked by circumstances: Hard times, sickness, failures, testings, aggravating situations, disasters, etc., are often meant to draw us closer to God and make us trust Him more. Instead, folks often grow farther from the source of strength they need.
Pricked ears: Perhaps, God sent a godly mother, grandmother, neighbor, friend, Sunday school teacher, or let us hear a preacher on TV, but still, His invitation was ignored.
Pricked eyes: Many have seen bits of the Word of God in tracts and good Christian testimonies, yet their example has been ignored.
Too often, God’s “pricks” to our hearts and lives are ignored. What does God have to do to you to get your attention and obedience?
“The greater thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are going.”
— Oliver Wendell Holmes
Doesn’t God come first before our loved ones ? That’s what I was taught .
Star, I see what you’re saying, but I think Bro.Bill’s situation may be legit. I know a man that says his kids don’t go to church because their dog gets real bad anxiety if nobody is home, therefore that’s why his kids don’t go. To me, that’s just an excuse!
Bro. Bill is still serving the Lord through these devotions, and he’s been faithful to the Lord for 35+ years.
By the way, her illness just “disappeared” since last Saturday, for awhile anyway, and we’re back in church, and hopefully I’ll be able to resume soul winning again.
Amen brother! I think you do a phenomenal job taking care of your wife and doing these devotions everyday!
He does come first. But I believe our main ministry is always the family He gave us. That ministry has nothing to do with putting God in a lesser position!
Didn’t know orange trees had thorns!
Several years ago, I was pasturing a church (Sun morn, evenings, and Wednesday nights) going to bible college 3 days a week, working a full time job, raising a family – my wife and my body (and God) was telling me to slow down, but I didn’t listen.
One night I woke up and had a massive aanxiety/panic attack (ended up in the hospital) that I believe God struck me with to get me to slow down and listen to His guidance and direction. I was trying to do things my way and He definitely pricked my circumstances!
Hmmm. I think I have just had a similar message. For many of the 35+ years I’ve taught at least three classes a week, preached in nursing homes, worked on a bus ministry, wrote, interpreted to the deaf, gone to church at least four services a week, and went soul winning., Now that my wife is sick, we are home bound much of the time and I have had to cut most of my ministries. I am not crazy about it. I love to work and serving the Lord. But, God’s the boss, and apparently it is time for me to slow down. He knows best.
God can also shove one smiles as like I have said he knows what we are from the time we are conceived .