Acts 16: 6-9 ~ Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.
There Paul and his companions are, walking across Asia Minor filled with the Spirit and not telling anyone … WHY? They were obedient. There are a time when we need to just walk and listen; that was what Paul was doing. Reread the action verbs in this passage: traveled (v. 6), came (v. 7), tried (v.7), passes by (v. 8), went, got ready at once (v.10). There was nothing stagnant about this journey. Paul did not sit down and say, “I am going to do this for God someday.” He was in motion, listening, waiting, perhaps resting, and practicing obedience. And at the perfect time God reveal Himself and the next part of the plan.
Acts 16:10 ~ During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
I often refer back to this passage when I am in a stage of life when I feel I am just walking through my day. Honesty, there are sometimes I want to just stop and wait for the next big thing. As if God is going to throw a Bat-signal up in the air as my cue to be activated. That is not the life we are called to live. We are called to WALK with the Lord and FOLLOW Him (note the action verbs again!).
I wonder what Paul and his companions did while they were walking. Did they talk to each other, did they reminisce what God had done previously, or did they simply tell stories and exchange advice. We don’t know … but the point is they were moving and willing to be active participates in God’s Kingdom.
So today as we go through life I am going to ask myself this question, “Am I just living? Or am I living out of obedience moving in God’s direction?”
posted by Laura Wilson @ 4:01:00 PM
0 comments
