Wednesday 12 December, 2012

6 Paul and his companions traveled all through the area of Phrygia and Galatia. The Holy Spirit had kept them from preaching the word in Asia Minor. 7 They came to the border of Mysia. From there they tried to enter Bithynia. But the Spirit of Jesus would not let them. 8 So they passed by Mysia. Then they went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision. He saw a man from Macedonia standing and begging him. “Come over to Macedonia!” the man said. “Help us!” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia. We decided that God had called us to preach the good news there.

Paul had every intention of preaching the gospel in Asia. He made every effort to get into Bithynia. In both places God said “No”.

That doesn’t make sense. Why would God allow the gospel to be preached in some areas and not in others?

I love

the quote “the ‘good’ is often the enemy of the ‘great’.”

From God’s perspective, Paul preaching in Asia and Bithynia – the ‘good’ – may have prevented the gospel going to Macedonia – the ‘great’.

Paul, in this passage, displays two qualities that I really need to develop.

1. Pragmatic faith

2. Dynamic obedience

When God closes a ‘good’ door I need to say “that’s fine. The ‘great’ door must be just ahead”. When God does open the ‘great’ door I must, like Paul, walk through it without the slightest hesitation or delay.

Lord, please be patient with me. Develop in me pragmatic faith and dynamic obedience. Please help me be so in tune with You that I choose to obey even when I don’t want to.

Written by Boudy VanNoppen