Discerning Options & Instructions

The struggle between options and direct instructions for your life will always produce tension. Sometimes the tension is between individuals. A simple change of employment can trigger a chain reaction, leading one to move cities and possibly dissolve relationships, affecting the reciprocal support received from those relationships. Sometimes the tension is just within one individual, who struggles when there are options and no direct instructions, or vice versa. Pressing into these types of moments can inspire the mind to work through the “what if” possibilities, placing a strong focus on the outcome while possibly minimizing the process. But what if the two opposing paths both claim to have the same source for moving forward? How do you move forward with your faith in Jesus as the leading motivation?  
 
 Paul’s last missional journey has this exact tension. Paul had decided with the Spirit to go to Jerusalem as well as to go to Rome (Acts 19:21) not knowing what would happen (Acts 20:22). On two separate occasions two groups of Christian encourage Paul through the Spirit not to go (Acts 21:4) as well as telling him what would happen to him (Acts 21:11). A question to ponder to is “Who is right?” Is Paul following the Spirit, or is the group of believers following the Spirit? I believe in order to answer that question, we have to discern what the motivations behind the decision are, because that reveals the focus. They may have been worried for Paul’s life because he was a great leader for the gospel, and taking away his impact may have weakened their faith. But this line of reasoning does not rest on Jesus and the Holy Spirit; it places Paul at the foundation.
 
Paul responds to the second group with deep emotion for them, but proclaiming his willingness to be jailed or killed for the Lord in Jerusalem (Acts 21:13). A response is given by the group with the gospel as the motivation for their acceptance of Paul’s decision, “Let the will of the Lord be done” (Acts 21:14). When we discern the outcome of our actions or even the possible blessings that could be recieved from God because certain choices, we should never forget to let God lead the process. So we may hold the position of glorifying Him through every moment of our life rather than just moments of need or moments of celebration and completion.