God’s Acts…

When we think we know what we are doing, God intervenes with more specifics. We can stop and obey or keep going our own way. Paul is a Type A person…going, going, going…until God stops him in a dream and gives him a new travel itinerary. These course corrections in his journey led him to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ to the Europeans.

What is good to note, however, that Paul did not stop working to encourage the churches all around the countryside until the Macedonian call. He did not wait on God’s call but kept working until God took him in another direction. Time was not wasted. A new recruit, Timothy, was brought on board. Timothy later was trained to train others exponentially in preaching the salvation of Jesus Christ. (See 2 Timothy 2:2)

Acts 16, The Message
A Dream Gave Paul His Map
16 1-3 Paul came first to Derbe, then Lystra. He found a disciple there by the name of Timothy, son of a devout Jewish mother and Greek father. Friends in Lystra and Iconium all said what a fine young man he was. Paul wanted to recruit him for their mission, but first took him aside and circumcised him so he wouldn’t offend the Jews who lived in those parts. They all knew that his father was Greek.

4-5 As they traveled from town to town, they presented the simple guidelines the Jerusalem apostles and leaders had come up with. That turned out to be most helpful. Day after day the congregations became stronger in faith and larger in size.

6-8 They went to Phrygia, and then on through the region of Galatia. Their plan was to turn west into Asia province, but the Holy Spirit blocked that route. So they went to Mysia and tried to go north to Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus wouldn’t let them go there either. Proceeding on through Mysia, they went down to the seaport Troas.

9-10 That night Paul had a dream: A Macedonian stood on the far shore and called across the sea, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” The dream gave Paul his map. We went to work at once getting things ready to cross over to Macedonia. All the pieces had come together. We knew now for sure that God had called us to preach the good news to the Europeans.

What do we learn?
–Paul kept working at what was given him to do until God told him to do otherwise. We work until God tells us to change course. The mission is in God’s control. He knows what is best for those we serve and and He knows what is ahead.

What happened in Macedonia?

Acts 16, The Message
11-12 Putting out from the harbor at Troas, we made a straight run for Samothrace. The next day we tied up at New City and walked from there to Philippi, the main city in that part of Macedonia and, even more importantly, a Roman colony. We lingered there several days.

13-14 On the Sabbath, we left the city and went down along the river where we had heard there was to be a prayer meeting. We took our place with the women who had gathered there and talked with them. One woman, Lydia, was from Thyatira and a dealer in expensive textiles, known to be a God-fearing woman. As she listened with intensity to what was being said, the Master gave her a trusting heart—and she believed!

15 After she was baptized, along with everyone in her household, she said in a surge of hospitality, “If you’re confident that I’m in this with you and believe in the Master truly, come home with me and be my guests.” We hesitated, but she wouldn’t take no for an answer.

Answering the Macedonian call brought new believers to Christ and influential people to join the mission of telling the known world about Him.

Reflection:
Am I willing to change course if God says move? What is my Macedonian call today?

Dear Heavenly Father, Speak to our hearts for we are listening to You. We will work at what we are doing until You say to move. We are Yours, Lord. Everything as are and all that is in us is Yours. We love You because You love us more than we can imagine. Be with us. Continue to call out to Your people!
In Jesus Name, Amen

Remember the old hymn that as children we really didn’t realize what it meant?…Well, now you know.

There’s a call comes ringing o’er the restless wave,
“Send the light! Send the light!”
There are souls to rescue, there are souls to save,
Send the light! Send the light!

Send the light, the blessed Gospel light;
Let it shine from shore to shore!
Send the light, the blessed Gospel light;
Let it shine forevermore!

We have heard the Macedonian call today,
“Send the light! Send the light!”
And a golden off’ring at the cross we lay,
Send the light! Send the light!

Let us pray that grace may everywhere abound,
“Send the light! Send the light!”
And a Christlike spirit everywhere be found,
Send the light! Send the light!

Let us not grow weary in the work of love,
“Send the light! Send the light!”