But Lord

“But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem! 14And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.”  Acts 9:13-14 NLT

How many times has God heard us say “but Lord” when He asks us to do something instead of saying “yes, Lord”? Then we tell Him what He already knows. It’s like we’re saying “But Lord, don’t you know?” Of course, He knows. He knows exactly what He is asking.

As I read these verses, I pictured Ananias going about his day and hearing the Lord call to him and then recoiling when he heard God tell him to go to Saul. That was probably the last thing he expected to hear. So, his natural response is to basically say, “But Lord, don’t you know who this man is?” 

Ananias goes to Saul after hearing why God wanted him to, but how pleasing it must be to the Lord when He says “Go” and we say “Yes, Lord”. Now, God knows sometimes He asks us to do things that are so unexpected, we take time to wrap our mind around it. He’s patient and waits for us, but the closer we walk with God, the less we’re surprised by what He asks, and the less we need an explanation. 

We become like Abram when God told him in Genesis 12:1 to leave his native country, his family, his relatives and go to the country God would show him. Verse 4 says Abram departed as the Lord had instructed. Abram did not know where his journey would end. All he knew was God said go, and he went.

When God told him to sacrifice Isaac, he said, “yes, Lord”. He didn’t say “but Lord”, he just went. I’m sure his mind was full of questions, but he went anyway and did as the Lord asked without the need for an explanation.Let’s strive to walk closer to God and turn our “but Lord” into a “yes, Lord”.