Scripture: 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.” From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days... One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message...When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully...He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household. After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and sisters and encouraged them. Then they left. Acts 16:7-9, 12, 14-14, 19, 23-23, 30-31, 34, 40 NIV Application: It will look like a big ugly mark on an otherwise pristine event. We get detoured. We run into the wrong person. We may even get into trouble with the authorities. But don't judge the big picture by one wobbly stroke of a paintbrush. God is working some amazing things out, and we're among the beneficiaries. If Paul had followed his rigid plans and went on to Turkey, we might not have ever heard of Lydia, the merchant woman whose influential life spread the Gospel. We might not have ever read Philippians, one of the most lovely and touching books of the Bible. We would not have heard about the Philippian jailor, whose honest question of how he could be saved sets the simple standard for all believers of all time: Just believe in Jesus. Ponder this: A set back in our personal plans may be a set up for immense blessings for millions of people. Comments are closed.
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