March 17: Following His Guidance.
HIS PERMISSION.
After they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them.--Acts 16:7
Years ago, I tried to start a group with the purpose of studying and sharing the gospel. Many people got together to talk about the plan, location of the meetings, et cetera. But things were not happening as expected. It truly felt as if we were forcing something that God was not approving. And it never took off. It's confusing when we want to do something good, to advance God's kingdom, and God seems to prevent it. It simply doesn't work out. Over the years, I have realized that just because something is good doesn't necessarily mean that it is God's will for that time, place, or set of circumstances.
Sometimes the Spirit of God guided Paul away from his plans, even preventing him from preaching the gospel in a particular area. In Acts 16, during his second missionary journey, Paul arrived at Derbe and Lystra. After going through the churches that had already been established in that area, "They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia" (verse 6). If you look at an ancient map, it looks reasonable that they would want to go west, towards Ephesus. But God prevented them. F.F. Bruce explains: "Paul's missionary journeys display an extraordinary combination of strategic planning and keen sensitiveness to the guidance of the Spirit of God, however that guidance was conveyed--by prophetic utterance, inward prompting, or the overruling of external circumstances." * Then they tried to go north, into Bithynia, "and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them" (verse 7). Eventually, Paul received a vision to cross over into Macedonia (verses 9, 10). It is crucial to submit ourselves to God's guidance; and that even includes our good plans that seem so obvious to us. It is essential to remember that He is our Creator, Savior, and Lord. He knows where, when, and how the preaching of the gospel will be most effective. We can trust Him, who gave His life for the whole world, to open the doors for Jesus to be lifted up, that He may draw all people to Himself!
My Response:______________________________________________________
* F.F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, NICNT (Grand Rapids, MI: Erdmans, 1988), 306.
HIS PERMISSION.
After they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them.--Acts 16:7
Years ago, I tried to start a group with the purpose of studying and sharing the gospel. Many people got together to talk about the plan, location of the meetings, et cetera. But things were not happening as expected. It truly felt as if we were forcing something that God was not approving. And it never took off. It's confusing when we want to do something good, to advance God's kingdom, and God seems to prevent it. It simply doesn't work out. Over the years, I have realized that just because something is good doesn't necessarily mean that it is God's will for that time, place, or set of circumstances.
Sometimes the Spirit of God guided Paul away from his plans, even preventing him from preaching the gospel in a particular area. In Acts 16, during his second missionary journey, Paul arrived at Derbe and Lystra. After going through the churches that had already been established in that area, "They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia" (verse 6). If you look at an ancient map, it looks reasonable that they would want to go west, towards Ephesus. But God prevented them. F.F. Bruce explains: "Paul's missionary journeys display an extraordinary combination of strategic planning and keen sensitiveness to the guidance of the Spirit of God, however that guidance was conveyed--by prophetic utterance, inward prompting, or the overruling of external circumstances." * Then they tried to go north, into Bithynia, "and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them" (verse 7). Eventually, Paul received a vision to cross over into Macedonia (verses 9, 10). It is crucial to submit ourselves to God's guidance; and that even includes our good plans that seem so obvious to us. It is essential to remember that He is our Creator, Savior, and Lord. He knows where, when, and how the preaching of the gospel will be most effective. We can trust Him, who gave His life for the whole world, to open the doors for Jesus to be lifted up, that He may draw all people to Himself!
My Response:______________________________________________________
* F.F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, NICNT (Grand Rapids, MI: Erdmans, 1988), 306.
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