Friday Thought -- May 23, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“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. 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.” (Acts 16:6-10)

This is a strange story. Paul tried to go into Asia to preach, but somehow the Holy Spirit would not allow him to do that. So, he tried to enter Bithynia and the Spirit prevented him from going there, too. It seems like anywhere a person wanted to preach would be okay with the Lord. So, why would God prevent Paul and his team from going to those new places?

The answer lies in the next couple of verses. God prevented Paul from going to Asia and Bithynia because of the people of Philippi and the other cities of that region to which Paul did go to preach. God knew that a woman in Philippi named Lydia was ripe and ready to respond to the Gospel (Acts 16:13-15). God knew that there was a jailer and his family in Philippi who would open their hearts to the Lord if given the chance (Acts 16:25:33). And those aren’t the only people who were saved because Paul came to Macedonia to preach.

It wasn’t that God was keeping Paul out of Asia and Bithynia because He didn’t want the gospel preached there -- God wants the gospel preached everywhere. It was because God knew Paul was needed elsewhere. Paul was the messenger that needed to open the region of Macedonia and Greece for the gospel. Others from Asia Minor could go into Bithynia and Asia, Paul was needed somewhere else.

God orchestrated Paul going into Macedonia because God knew the people there, could see that their hearts were ready, and wanted to see them saved. When people are ready, God will see to it that a messenger is sent to them!

That’s how much He loves people. That’s God’s grace!

His, by Grace,

Steve