Through the Bullhorn

Through the Bullhorn

I remember growing up, being a riotous child, my father would often have to get my attention. He had various avenues for doing so. If he wanted me to “dig my own grave” and let me realize it, he’d be silent. Or he would let my mother pinch me, if I was mildly acting out in public. But the most memorable, and frightening, was the snap of the belt… that’s when you cease all movement. Our God, like my father, has various avenues at getting our attention. He can be silent (look at some of David’s Psalms), He can be a calm persistent voice (1 Kings 19:12), or a loud bullhorn (Paul on his way to Damascus). But, God will get our attention, you can bet the bank.

Our American lives are filled with motion, noise, distractions, and rare little prayers. And with that, God is jealous for the time we spend on other things. Now this may seem like a given, but it’s a lot more prevalent then we think. Let’s look at two examples. First, we have the Christian named Phyllis who goes to Church once a month. Phyllis works full time as sales associate, has two kids who have hobbies, and attends a book club every Thursday. With parent teacher meetings, after school events, homework for her book club, quotas to meet at work, she just feels like she doesn’t have time for anything else. Second, we have a Christian named Terry who is very involved with his church. Terry is a IT tech at a major corporation, volunteers as a teacher on Sundays, is on the deacon board at church, and has a family of four. Terry feels good about what he does, but feels like he can do more. Both of these people, in this fictional example, have one thing in common: they are focusing on what they do, not who they do it for. Paul says, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV). The question is, “am I living this out”?

I recently, received a bullhorn call from God. Where I was forced into looking at one issue: do I find my worth in what I do or who God is. And I found myself saying yes to the former. Throughout my walk with Christ I elevated Christianity over Christ: first, while in school it was theology, second it was ministry. And with all of that my worth was as a potential pastor, not as a child of a loving God. See, back to my examples, many ministers won’t identify with either Phyllis or Terry separately but rather combined. We pour our hearts into ministry and become enveloped by its importance, like Terry, but are like Phyllis in where we lose time in communion with God. So, what can we learn from Paul’s bullhorn experience with Christ? Let’s look at Acts 9:3-9

As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. ⁴ He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”

⁵“Who are you, lord?” Saul asked.

And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! ⁶ Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

⁷ The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one! ⁸ Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus. ⁹ He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink.

First, God let him think. He was there for three days without any answer from God. Jesus interrupted Saul (Paul’s name before his conversion) and all his plans, then just left him to reflect. Talk about torturous! Second, Paul repented in verse nine: he… did not eat or drink. Paul didn’t just reflect, he reflected on himself. And sometimes that is not a fun task. So, when God shouts through the bullhorn, we need to take time to reflect and repent. And I bet when you do that, like Saul did, you will find that your worth is in God and God alone.