“A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man was standing there, urging him, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us…’ Immediately we sought to go.., concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
“So.., we made voyage… to Philippi, a leading city of Macedonia… 13 On the Sabbath we went outside the gate to the riverside, where… we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. One was Lydia,.. a seller of purple goods… The Lord opened her heart to pay attention… She was baptized, and her household as well…
“As we were going.., we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and… fortune-telling. She followed us, crying, ‘These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.’ This she kept doing for many days. Paul… said to the spirit, ‘I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.’ And it came out that very hour.
“But… her owners… seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers… [T]hey threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely… He put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw.., he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried, ‘Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.’ And the jailer… fell down before Paul and Silas… and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ They said, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved…’ And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and all who were in his house.” Acts 16:9-19,23-32
Paul and Timothy, redirected from Asia and Bithynia to Macedonia, probably anticipated a spiritual harvest among Roman leaders in this leading city. But God had other plans. A seller of purple goods, a slave girl fortune teller, a jailer. None particularly glamorous in the world’s eyes, but everything in His. By the leading and moving of the Holy Spirit, one by one, the Lord opened minds and hearts to His life-giving salvation. Walking step by step in obedience, surrendered and expectant, these men used every opportunity to spread the light of truth. (Acts 15:40-16:8)
When the Spirit takes control of man’s desire and intentions, the gospel breaks forth. Outside the gate. On their way. In prison. Often it is to us in the unlikeliest or least expected places and situations where the Lord goes ahead to prepare souls for faith and eternal life. We see dry fallow ground, He sees faith. Whether these places are of our choosing or not, the Lord calls us to be ready and willing.
Would we pace our steps with His, avoiding or approaching as He directs, focusing one by one on those He’s identified and prepared for salvation? What time are we taking to discern, change course, initiate conversations that lead to life? Whom has God put in front of us, and how will we respond?
Lord give me passion, spiritual eyes, and words that make a difference for those You’re drawing to Yourself.
As the rain and snow 