Stand By Your Calling

You are listening to the My Morning Devotional podcast, episode 1536. Today's Devo is called Stand by youy Calling. Hey there. We're the Alessi's, a ministry family working together in our church in Miami, Florida. And if you're like us, when days get busy and to do lists get longer, it can be hard to find devotional time. That's why we've partnered with our friend Allison to produce a five minute daily dose of heaven. This is the My Morning Devotional Podcast. Welcome back to the My Morning Devotional Podcast. This is your host for the week, Gabby Alessi Koladiyud. And I am just so blessed that we are back together. It's been a minute. It's been a whole month since I've gotten the chance to host, but I'm really enjoying the topic that we are on right now, which is a study of the Book of Acts. And we've been going through it. You heard from my mom, Pastor Mary, at the beginning of this month, you heard from my sisters, and. And now we are closing out the book of Acts from Acts, chapters 22 all the way to 28. And so we're gonna close it up, tie it with a bow, and it's gonna be a blessing. And I hope you are ready for it. So let's jump into it. Where are we in the story? Acts 22 is now where Paul would have been arrested. At the end of 21, he was arrested. And then the last, like five verses or four verses, he now stands up and he's going to speak to this crowd. Acts chapter 22. He's now having this moment to speak to the crowd and of everything that he shares, of all the things that he could tell this crowd. He takes the time to share his story. He says it here at the top. He said, I am a Jew born to Tarsus of Cilicia. This is chapter two or chapter 22, verses three. He said, I was brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. He goes on to talk about how he was one of the people that persecuted Christians. When Stephen was being stoned, he stood there and watched, and he didn't put a stop to it. He was sharing about his. His testimony, and he was sharing about not only where he came from, but also what God did in him. And in verse 10, he says this because he's talking about his conversion on the road to Damascus. Verse 8 says, who are you Lord, I asked. I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting. And then verse 10 says this, what shall I do, Lord, I asked. Get up, the Lord said, and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do. What we're seeing here is that Paul goes on to tell his story about how, who he once was, what God did in him and then what God's called him to do. Even in the rest of, of the chapter of 22 he's making this claim and sharing with them how God changed his life, how Jesus changed his life and what Jesus can do for them. And in the midst of that they still come at him and they don't release him. He doesn't stand up there and make this bold claim and share this story. And all of a sudden all of the eyes of the people are opened and God just reveals it to them. And now they can let him go and they can live happily and then adds to the church. No, that doesn't happen. Paul shares his story, tells them that this is what God has assigned him to do. And the people still revolt against him. The people still want to keep him arrested. This is a great lesson for us today. I think the first lesson that we see here is number one, your story matters. Your testimony, who you once were, who God made you to be and who you are now, that matters to people. People need to hear that. People need to be inspired by that. You don't know what could happen to your co worker today. You don't know how their life would change if you simply over lunch just shared your story. But then the other side of this is that your story matters even when it's misunderstood. Because in Acts 22, Paul shares his testimony to a hostile crowd. He doesn't water it down. He tells the truth about who he was and how God changed him. And even through that, even in that, the crowd turned against him. But throughout all of this time, Paul stayed rooted in his calling. When God and Jesus met Paul on the road to Damascus, God said, go into Damascus and do what you have been assigned to do. And Paul now after Damascus and after starting these churches, is in Jerusalem still doing what he's assigned to do. You see, there will be moments when doing the right thing, it doesn't lead to an applause, it leads to resistance. It leads to a moment where people don't receive what you're trying to give them. We think the moment that we finally open up and become vulnerable, that's the moment when their eyes are just going to be open, the chains are going to break and finally they're going to see it. But it doesn't happen like that all the time. Sometimes it creates even more resistance, even even more conflict, even more issues. But we can't stop sharing it and we can't stop doing what we've been assigned to do. Obedience isn't measured by approval. It's measured by faithfulness. So remember this. This is where all of us have to be faithful. We have to stand by our calling and be obedient to what God has assigned us to do. So I want you to ask yourselves these couple of questions. Where am I tempted to shrink back from sharing my faith or my story? And do I value obedience over comfort? Let's pray. Father, we just thank you for today. We thank you that this is the day that you have made and we will all rejoice and be glad in it. Father, I just ask that you would encourage us today and strengthen us today in what you've assigned us to do. I pray that you give us courage to stand in our calling, even when it's uncomfortable, whatever that uncomfort or discomfort might look like for all of us. I pray that you strengthen us and help us stand by our calling what you've assigned us to do. Lord, not for the sake of applause, not for the sake of approval or what man says, but for the sake of obeying you and staying faithful to you. We thank you for it all. In Jesus name, Amen. So there you have it. Your 5 minute daily dose of heaven. Thank you so much for tuning in today. We pray these devotionals empower you to take on your day. If you found value in this devotional, share it with a friend. Leave a comment or review for us on the app you're using right now. Until tomorrow, we pray that your latte is strong, but your love for Jesus is stronger.