Readings for today: Psalms 2-3, Acts 16:1-15
I will be leading an elder retreat in about a month for our church family. The focus will be seeking God’s vision for the next season in our life together. This past year, we witnessed the successful completion of a vision God gave us several years ago of a licensed Christian counseling center focused on serving the suburban poor and those on Medicaid. It’s been a beautiful journey. One I am so thankful to be part of! God moved powerfully on the hearts of His people as they caught His vision for what could be if we eliminated our church debt. Now we stand on the cusp of yet another journey and to be honest, I am not sure where it will take us. What will our church look like post-COVID? How will we continue to fulfill the Great Commission and live out the Great Commandment? What does life together look like when it is mediated in both a physical as well as virtual environment? These are the questions I am taking to the Lord right now.
I imagine the Apostle Paul faced similar questions along the way. Yes, his context was radically different. Yes, his “journey” involved walking miles and miles as he went from city to city preaching the gospel and planting churches. But in many ways his challenge was the same. He clearly sought God’s vision for his ministry. He sought God’s direction for his life. He fundamentally understood that unless the Lord built the house, all his labor would be in vain. Following the will of the Spirit is never a straight line. At least not in my experience. He zigs and He zags. He sometimes takes you two steps forward and one step back. There are these amazing twists to the journey that only make sense upon reflection.
Consider what happens in our reading today. “So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily. And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.” (Acts 16:5-10) Paul, Silas, and Timothy carry the gospel to cities in the regions of Syria and Cilicia. They experience great success in places like Derbe and Lystra. The churches there are strengthened in their faith. They grow in numbers. It must have been so exciting for them! But then a door is shut in Asia. Another door closes in Bithynia. We don’t know the details but it must have been disappointing to Paul and his team on some level. Perhaps the people didn’t respond well to the message? Perhaps the persecution was particularly intense? Perhaps Paul and his team simply felt a strong check in their spirit? After all, Luke (the author of the Book of Acts) is pretty specific that it was the Holy Spirit or the Spirit of Jesus that prevented them from going where they originally had planned. I can imagine them pulling into Troas feeling frustrated by the delays. Disheartened by the doors that closed in their faces. Perhaps some doubt began to creep in regarding the future of their trip. Little do they know this was all part of God’s grand design!
My wife is fond of saying, “Sometimes you have to go from point A to point B so that you can see point C. You cannot necessarily see point C from point A though this may be where God wants you to end up. You have to trust Him for every step of the journey.” I think Paul would agree! He had to face those disappointments in Asia and Bithynia in order to prepare him to receive the vision of the man from Macedonia. Imagine how different the world would be if Paul had not brought the gospel to Europe? You and I may not be saved today!
So here’s the question…are you seeking God’s vision for your life? And are you willing to let Him both open and close doors? Are you willing to let Him lead and guide your steps even if they don’t always lead in a straight line? Do you trust Him for provision and protection, strength and wisdom along the way? Do you take your successes and failures, your victories and defeats, your joys and disappointments and lay them at His feet? Most importantly, do you rest in His deep, steadfast, loyal, abiding love?
Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 4-6, Acts 16:16-40