Paul@Arabia.delay

[S] Galatians 1:15-18,23-24 --

 ¹⁵But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, was pleased
 ¹⁶to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood,
 ¹⁷nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus.
 ¹⁸Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days.

 ²³but only, they kept hearing, "He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy."
 ²⁴And they were glorifying God because of me.


[O] After Paul's conversion he spent three years in Arabia before he returned home to Jerusalem and then started to engage in the ministry Jesus started.  He began to meet some of the Christians there but stayed low just simply preaching the gospel in that region.  For someone like Paul, taking this "detour" in Arabia right after he was converted and commissioned to preach among the Gentiles must not have been easy.  Since God revealed His plan so clearly, why not just charge ahead into the ministry without losing any more time?  Well, God had another idea for Paul's life for him to integrate into the Christian community because of his previous position of persecuting the Christians.  For Paul, it may well have been his previous position, and for me it may well be for another reason but God's timing is different from mine.  My tendency is to use the time most efficiently by diving into my calling in ministry as soon as I hear it.  However, many times God wants me to spend some time in my own "Arabia" to be trained before entering into my calling.  I guess I need to learn how to obey Him in smaller things before I can take on God-sized tasks.

In verses 23-24 we can see the fruits from God's timing for Paul to enter into His ministry.  People heard about this guy who's preaching what he tried to destroy before and they glorified God through Paul's conversion.

[A] Ponder -- what is my Arabia?  Am I trying to go ahead of God in doing the ministry at my church?  Need to make sure I remember God's timing and bearing of His fruits is not necessarily no my terms and conditions.  I need to pursue His "results."

[P] Dear God, Your leadership in Paul's life is so accurate and purpose driven and yet Paul probably didn't appreciate that during the course of the three years in Arabia.  Like him, I may not appreciate what I'm currently going through but grant me the trust and faith to give You the gratitude now even if I cannot envision it.  I want to bear fruits like Paul -- the ones You want me to bear.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.