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Stay in the Game

Talking American football, who's your favorite quarterback? Do you notice how he rallies the team, calls plays and one of the offensive players either receives a pass or a hand-off to weave their way down the field in the face of opposition? Many times they are stopped after only a few yards. Occasionally, they make several yards. But, always the plan is to regroup, strategize and assess the situation until they ultimately reach the end zone with the ball and score a touchdown!

Paul, the apostle, "assayed" toward the calling on his life often in the face of opposition. We esteem Paul because he left a legacy of brilliant accomplishments and lived a life of faithfulness to what God asked him to do. But, do you realize, he was just as human as you and me and more often than not, didn't really know which way to go?

Acts 16: 6-10 gives a glimpse of Paul trying to sort it all out: "And Paul and Silas passed through the territory of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Word in [the province of] Asia. And when they had come opposite Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them. So passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. [There] a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man from Macedonia stood pleading with him and saying, Come over to Macedonia and help us! And when he had seen the vision, we [including Luke] at once endeavored to go on into Macedonia, confidently inferring that God had called us to proclaim the glad tidings (Gospel) to them."

Paul tried to go to Asia; then he tried to go into Bithynia and ended up down in Troas when he finally got a clear message which way to go!

In Acts 16:7 where the Amplified version uses the word they "tried," the Greek word is epeirazon which means to test, scrutinize, assay, examine, prove.

Many times, we are not sure we are headed in the right direction to accomplish His plan. But, we take steps, assured Father God is involved. He is the best coach ever. Jesus is an astounding quarterback who can call plays that make a difference and the Holy Spirit, well, He will be carrying you down that field as you assay toward the goal . . . the prize of the High Calling!* Do not fret if you can't see years ahead to where you are supposed to be. Just stay in the game and faithfully carry the ball, play after play, carefully listening to your coach and quarterback, keeping your eyes on the goal until at last you dance across the finish line.

* "I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward" (Philippians 3:14 Amplified).

Ellene Meece lives in Meeker, Colorado and works with her husband in their natural resource company while running her own online store, http://www.Grandmastreasuresonline.com. Currently, she oversees the marketing for the FMIN Workplace Leaders Network and is on staff at the Meeker Chamber of Commerce.

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