[Friday's Devotional] - Guided by the Spirit

Paul has now set off on his second journey, and today we read how God directs him and his accomplices to Macedonia.

"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 16:7-10 [NIV]

It's difficult to understand how it actually happened. How did the Spirit of Jesus not allow them to enter Bithynia? Was there a force-field that stopped them going in that direction? Was it just that there were no buses that day? I guess we will never know for sure! What is clear is that Paul then had a clear message from God in the form of a vision, in this case, which he immediately responded to. Paul shows us the way to respond to God's call.

Unfortunately we don't often get such a clear message from God; or do we?

We live in a very scientifically minded age; humankind thinks that it has (or is working on) the answers for everything. When God calls, do we hear or see that it is God, or are we now conditioned to look for some other 'reasonable explanation'. I'm sure that when we look for God at work in the world around us, in the lives of those we interact with, then we see God in action more and more. When we look for other reasons for events or invoke coincidence then our perception of God diminishes.

The more we are aware of God in the world about us then the more likely it is that we will hear his call and have the opportunity of responding as Paul did.

Today's prayer; Father, open my eyes to you and your work. Open my mind to the possibility that it is you at work, not circumstance. Open my ears to hear your call and help me respond 'at once' with all that I am.

Amen

Mike Iredale

Read the Bible in a year:  Psalm 78:1-8, 1 Kings 12:25-14:20, Acts 16:1-15