Acts 9:6

Acts 9:6

The Apostle's experience may never again be exactly reproduced as regards its external circumstances; but in every manifestation of God to the soul which has hitherto been ignorant of His true being, close upon the question "Who art thou, Lord?" will follow the further inquiry, "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?"

I. Action is the necessary result of Divine illumination. When God lifts the veil to reveal Himself to His creature, it is not merely to satisfy the curiosity with which man seeks to penetrate into the mysteries of the invisible; it is not only to call into play the warm emotions of man's heart, and set them all aglow with the tingling of the touch of an unseen world. It is indeed to increase man's knowledge of the infinite, but to the end that that knowledge may lead him on to new roads of duty thereby thrown open to him; it is to kindle man's affections with the coal from off the altar of the invisible, but on this account that he may so be empowered to act not in the power of the natural man, but in the strength of the supernatural gift of the Spirit.

II. But the means the way by which, and in which, the blessed end is to be carried out how difficult to select, how dangerous to be mistaken; to have the bright future forfeited by a wrong choice! Trembling and astonished at the dignity of his privilege, man fears by wilful or ignorant choice of means to frustrate the purpose which has so graciously been provided for him. Dedicating himself and all his powers to the God who has chosen him, he cries with the earnestness of hearty devotion, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" In other words, he realises and prepares to follow out his vocation.

III. In following out our vocation, we have to remind ourselves of two great principles that characterise the works of God as performed by Himself, and must therefore govern that work which, in union with Him, we hope to accomplish in the world. With God nothing is too minute to be taken count of. With God there is no undue haste. These must then be the laws of our conduct. "He that contemneth small things shall fall by little and little." "Though it tarry, wait for it, because it will surely come; it will not tarry."

H. Hollingworth, Oxford and Cambridge Journal,Oct. 18th, 1877.

References: Acts 9:6. Plain Sermons by Contributors to "Tracts for the Times,"vol. iii., p. 310; W. Brookfield, Sermons,p. 74; Bishop Barry, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xxv., p. 65; W. Pulsford, Trinity Church Sermons,p. 250; Contemporary Pulpit,vol. ix., p. 38; Sermons for Boys and Girls,p. 349; Preacher's Monthly,vol. i., p. 35; Clergyman's Magazine,vol. i., p. 18; vol. iv., p. 89. Acts 9:8. Homiletic Magazine,vol. x., p. 333; vol. xvi., p. 354; vol. xix., p. 119. Acts 9:10. Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. xxxi., No. 1838. Acts 9:11. Ibid.,vol. i., No. 16; vol. xxxi., No. 1860; Ibid., Morning by Morning,p. 308; Homiletic Quarterly,vol. iii., p. 131.Acts 9:13. Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. xvi., No. 944.