I HAVE NOT HESITATED
20th Feb 2013
I had been reading Acts 20 and found myself thinking about the phrase in verse 20 where Paul says, “You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you...” It is very interesting that the translators of the NIV used that word ‘hesitated’.
When we ‘hesitate’ we pause to decide to speak or not to speak, to act or to do nothing. Sometimes we should have challenged or confronted, but were afraid of the reaction that we might receive. There were other situations when we should have encouraged and supported and we remained silent.
In verse 27 of the same chapter Pauls says, “For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.” We all have areas of our lives where we have influence over others, it may be family, children, work colleagues or friends. Do we love these people enough to ‘not hesitate’ to speak words that will encourage, affirm and strengthen or warn, correct and confront?
In Acts 10:20, when Peter has been given a vision from God of the sheet full of ‘unclean’ animals, and is being asked to go and preach the Gospel to the Gentiles, the Spirit said to him, “So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them for I have sent them.” Peter’s upbringing and experience would have forbidden him from going to the house of Cornelius, so the Spirit needed to say to him - ‘do not hesitate’! Peter obeyed and saw God do amazing things in the house of Cornelius (Acts 10:23-48)
Political pressures are seeking to silence truth in today’s society - I believe it is time for believers to declare God’s principles of truth and righteousness. I also know there are times when our words of faith and encouragement are not spoken, because in the moment of ‘hesitation’ we missed the opportunity to bless and strengthen someone.
by Charles Sibthorpe
