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Reuel Green was 56 years old when he suffered a massive stroke that left him paralyzed on his right side and unable to speak more than a few words.
He had been a preacher, a pastor, and active in many areas of Gospel work as a church leader.
One day, some months after the stroke, Reuel's sister was entreating God to heal him.
The Holy Spirit spoke to her heart, "Do you want to bypass My purpose for this?" Her tears flowed, and she responded, "No, Lord." She still did not understand why God had allowed it, but she was fully committed to submitting to God's will and came away from that prayer meeting convinced that He had a purpose in Reuel's affliction.
Reuel lived 26 years after the stroke.
Although he could not preach or converse, the Spirit of God was on his life, and he continued to spread the Gospel in any way he could.
He worked faithfully at the church office, folding letters and putting tracts in envelopes.
He handed out tracts to anyone he could, including servers in restaurants and people he met as he walked along with his cane.
Residents of the neighborhood where he lived said later, "It was as if he had a light inside of him." Indeed he did, and he did not allow that light to be diminished by his lack of understanding of God's purpose.
We can be inclined to think that if we are doing what God wants us to do, everything should roll along smoothly, and if we have difficulties, it must be because we are not in the Lord's will.
However, that may not necessarily be true.
When hard situations come, it is valuable to search our hearts.
We want to be certain that we are fully submitted to God and doing what He wants us to do.
Once we have that clear assurance, it is important to keep on, even if doing so is difficult.
Sometimes we may experience pain as we watch others suffer while doing the will of God.
Reuel's sister felt this, as did Paul's friends and traveling companions in today's text.
It can be heartrending to see our parents, children, or friends suffering while fulfilling the will of God.
At such times, we want to cast our cares upon the Lord and encourage our loved ones and associates in their service to Him.
May our ultimate goal be like Paul's, for God to be glorified no matter what the personal cost.
Reuel Green was 56 years old when he suffered a massive stroke that left him paralyzed on his right side and unable to speak more than a few words.
He had been a preacher, a pastor, and active in many areas of Gospel work as a church leader.
One day, some months after the stroke, Reuel's sister was entreating God to heal him.
The Holy Spirit spoke to her heart, "Do you want to bypass My purpose for this?" Her tears flowed, and she responded, "No, Lord." She still did not understand why God had allowed it, but she was fully committed to submitting to God's will and came away from that prayer meeting convinced that He had a purpose in Reuel's affliction.
Reuel lived 26 years after the stroke.
Although he could not preach or converse, the Spirit of God was on his life, and he continued to spread the Gospel in any way he could.
He worked faithfully at the church office, folding letters and putting tracts in envelopes.
He handed out tracts to anyone he could, including servers in restaurants and people he met as he walked along with his cane.
Residents of the neighborhood where he lived said later, "It was as if he had a light inside of him." Indeed he did, and he did not allow that light to be diminished by his lack of understanding of God's purpose.
We can be inclined to think that if we are doing what God wants us to do, everything should roll along smoothly, and if we have difficulties, it must be because we are not in the Lord's will.
However, that may not necessarily be true.
When hard situations come, it is valuable to search our hearts.
We want to be certain that we are fully submitted to God and doing what He wants us to do.
Once we have that clear assurance, it is important to keep on, even if doing so is difficult.
Sometimes we may experience pain as we watch others suffer while doing the will of God.
Reuel's sister felt this, as did Paul's friends and traveling companions in today's text.
It can be heartrending to see our parents, children, or friends suffering while fulfilling the will of God.
At such times, we want to cast our cares upon the Lord and encourage our loved ones and associates in their service to Him.
May our ultimate goal be like Paul's, for God to be glorified no matter what the personal cost.
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