"Compelled" by the Spirit

Acts 20 : 17 - 27

....compelled by the Spirit....not knowing what will happen

Paul bids farewell to the Ephesian elders. His description about the way he is led by the Spirit is truly amazing....he uses the word "compelled", as if it was a very strong inner movement. I wonder how many of us would like to be led this way by the Spirit. It would seem good in that things might be clearer...and yet, come to think of it, it might be a little uncomfortable as well. It was for Paul, who admits that though led by the Spirit to Jerusalem, he goes there "not knowing what will happen to me there" The only things he knows is that, in every place, the Spirit warns him of hardships!! Who would really want to be led so "compellingly" by the Spirit, even if we could?

As I considered Paul's life, it is not too hard to see how open he is, how full of passion for the "one thing only" ("to testify to the gospel of God's grace") he is. Such a heart would be free enough to allow the Spirit to lead. I realize that wanting to be led by the Spirit is a desire that can only be fulfilled through some personal effort to free myself from the clutter of "many things" ( I recall Martha being told she is upset by many things...). There must be enough space within for the Spirit to move and there must be enough attentiveness on my part to recognize those inner movements.