(Acts 16:9) And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."
Paul and Silas were striking out. They were so excited to serve the Lord on this mission trip. Their home church had commended them to the grace of God and off they went. They picked up a young assistant named Timothy from the Lystra area and were hot to trot with the message of Jesus Christ for the world. They visited and encouraged the churches where Paul had been on his first missionary trip. The churches were strong in the grace of Christ and growing in numbers. Then their trip hit some red lights!
(Acts 16:6-8) Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. 7 After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. 8 So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.
Why is it that life drags sometimes? And when it does life can kind of be a drag. If you’re like me I like momentum and the sense that I’m going somewhere and accomplishing something. But when the red lights hit, what do you do? I guess you hit the brakes and come to a stop! If you don’t then you know what happens inside the intersection.
Wait . . . wait . . . wait. I hate waiting! Boring!! Waste of time!!! I want to be on the go and in the flow. And then God makes me wait. Why does He do that? Maybe it’s to teach me trust and patience. It teaches me that God is in control and I need to wait and rest in Him. He is up to something good and I need to wait for it. (Hab 1:5; 2:3)
As they were waiting on the Lord in Troas Paul had a vision. Paul and Silas finally got the green light from the Lord and off they went to Macedonia and Achaia where revival broke out and many came to the Lord. That’s where God wanted them to be but they didn’t know it until they started hitting the red lights.
Are you waiting for the green light? Or are you rushing out ahead because you are tired of waiting? (Psa 37:34) Wait on the LORD, And keep His way, And He shall exalt you to inherit the land . . .
Louie
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