Acts 16:6-10 The Macedonian Call

Paul, in his second missionary journey, sets out from Antioch, his sending church. In the beginning of his journey, he visits some of the churches he had already planted in his first journey. What catches my attention is that Paul went back to the place where he was stoned and left for dead. It is a display of courage. Would I have gone back to a place where I had been mistreated? I don't know, but I pray that God would grant me the same courage. Courage is not lack of fear. Courage is the ability to act in the face of fear. Courage is to say "no" to the paralysis that fear wants to impose. Courage is the "stuff" great men are made of. In history, courage has been the main ingredient of great things.

Obviously, Paul's plan was to go to Asia to preach the Gospel, but the Holy Spirit forbade it! Paul's plan was thwarted by the Holy Spirit's plan. I am sure that Paul had it all figured out before he set out on his journey, but he had to make adjustments and adapt to the Holy Spirit's direction. Paul is sensitive to the guidance of the Spirit, not wanting to impose his own plan, but willing to change his plans and adapt to the will of the Spirit. Personally, I'm a planner and don't do very well when someone tries to thwart my plan. But I must make room for the Spirit's guidance in the best of my plans. Am I willing to listen to the Spirit, even if it means setting aside my plans?

Now the Holy Spirit grants Paul a vision in which a Macedonian calls him to help. Paul shares his vision with the team and they all conclude that God called them to preach the Gospel to the Macedonians. Again, there is a sensitivity and a willingness to please the Spirit of God. Paul demonstrates a great desire to please God above all else, no matter the cost. The trip to Macedonia required an additional boat trip that he probably did not have in mind. Paul was willing to do whatever was necessary to please the one who called him. Am I willing to please God at all cost? Would I allow the inconveniences of a change of course to stand in my way of pleasing him?

It is important to note also that Paul was a team player and not a dictator. The response to the Macedonian vision was not just Paul saying they had to go there, but the language used is that of "we" and "us." The other members of the team understood the vision spoke to them as well. They worked together as a unit to bring the Gospel to the Macedonians. They did not resent Paul's vision, but they felt part of the calling as well. It is important to work as a team to achieve a synergy that leads to greater accomplishments than trying to work as a "lone ranger." God uses teams and teamwork.

Father, fill me with courage to lead as I answer your calling. Fill me with your Spirit and help me be sensitive to his guidance willing to trash my plans for yours. Grant me a heart that desires to please you above all things at whatever cost. Teach me to be a good team leader that moves others to fulfill your call as well.

Acts 8:26-40 Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch

The Holy Spirit not only empowered Christians to be bold and courageous to speak the Word, but he also guided them on where to go and what to do even in the midst of persecution. In the efforts to proclaim the good news of the Gospel, God uses even angels to guide his people. Philip is a perfect example of a follower of Christ who was obedient to such guidance. He was told to take a road that led to a desert place and yet Philip obeyed and went. He did not question why would God lead him to a desert place. If the goal was to preach to as many people as possible, why go to the desert? The city is a better choice! Am I open to God's guidance in whatever form it may come? Am I willing to obey even when I don't understand clearly why? If I am going to be effective in the proclamation of the Gospel in this world I must not only understand the message, but I must be obedient to God's directions on where to take the message as well.

Philip's obedience brings him in contact with an Ethiopian eunuch, a very important and influential Treasurer for queen Candace. A eunuch is a castrated man chosen to work in very influential positions in a kingdom. Castration was a means to ensure that the person would not have any family taking away any personal interests or ulterior motives to serve a king or queen. What an opportunity to bring the Word to someone so influential in his time. This was a divine appointment. If I receive and obey God's guidance, I will have divine appointments to share the good news of the Gospel. Am I sensitive enough to perceive God's guidance day by day? I can't obey what I can't hear.

Philip came along side the eunuch's chariot and befriended him before he was invited to get in the chariot to speak the Word. The Ethiopian eunuch confessed that he needed guidance in order to understand what he was reading, but he didn't have someone to help him. The proclamation of the Gospel takes place when a person with a need to understand is met by a person with a desire to explain. Philip's obedience brought him in contact with someone in need, but he first comes alongside and waits for an invitation. Like Philip, I must seize the opportunity of an encounter by coming alongside and showing a genuine interest to help. Only then will I be invited to share the good news. The old saying applies here: "No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care." (Don Swartz)

When the eunuch invited Philip to enter the chariot, he was in for the ride of his life. The eunuch was reading Isaiah 53 and he was wondering who was the prophet talking about. Philip begins with this passage and told him the good news about Jesus leading him to believe and even make a commitment to baptism. Divine appointments require that I be ready to explain the Scriptures leading to the good news of Jesus. If I don't study the Scriptures, how can I lead those who are hungry to understand it? My effectiveness as a witness in the world depends on my ability to convey God's message as it is written in the Scriptures. Do I read the Bible? Do I take time to study it? Do I meditate on it day and night?

Father, make me an obedient messenger of your Word. Help me perceive your guidance in the midst of a noisy world. Empower me to intentionally befriend those who are seeking to understand your Word. Grant me great understanding of your Word and the ability to explain it to others. Amen.

Matthew 1:18-25 The Birth of Jesus Christ

The birth of our Lord Jesus Christ is the coming of our God in the flesh to the earth - God with us. He came with a specific purpose: to save us from our sins. The Lord's birth had been prophesied by Isaiah many years (around 700 years) before it happened. A prophecy like that requires human agents to participate to make it true. One of those obedient agents I admire is Joseph. He had to overcome (with God's help) a few obstacles to be obedient. 

Marriage in those days was a long process. More likely, it was arranged by the parents. Betrothal was the arrangement to give Mary to Joseph as wife and it was as binding as a wedding without them cohabiting. Betrothal could take many months up to a year before the wedding. The second stage was the wedding itself. It was a celebration that lasted several days at the end of which the bride and groom would cohabit and have sexual union.

Joseph was a just man, unwilling to shame Mary, but he resolved to divorce her quietly. His intentions were great, but the end result is not what God had planned. Joseph's solution to the situation he perceived as unacceptable (a pregnant wife before the wedding) was hardly the right one. God himself had to intervene through an angel in Joseph's sleep to straighten out his heart and ensure proper action.

How many times have I come up with solutions to my situations that miss out on God's plan and intentions? How many times has God intervened in my life to straighten out my heart before I make a decision final? How many times have I ignored God's guidance and did my own thing anyway? How many times my personal desires ruled over my obedience to God? At what cost?

I want to be like Joseph, a man who set aside his own desires to accomplish God's will. By the way, his desire to have a respected wife who would make him look good and satisfy his manly desires on wedding night is not ungodly at all. But his desire to do the will of God was greater. 

Lord, thank you for coming into the world to save me from my sins. Continue to intervene in my life when my solutions don't measure up to your expectations. Give me the sensitivity to perceive your guidance and the desire to obey it at all times.