February 8, 2011

Reading for February 7-11
Acts 18
Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey

“One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, 'Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me.' So Paul stayed there for the next year and a half, teaching the word of God." Acts 18:9-11 (NLT)

Go to where God sends you. Stay where God asks you to stay.
Is God saying to you, “I am at work here, and you must trust me and stick it out”?


Pastor’s Reflections

On this, Paul’s second missionary journey, Paul had a second vision. The first vision (chapter 16) took him from Asia Minor (current day Turkey)to Europe(northern Greece). It was a vision of God leading him to “go” on a brand new adventure. In this vision while in Corinth, however, God tells Paul to stay put.

The Lord, speaking to Paul personally rather than through an angel or a figure like “a man from Macedonia” (chap 16), gives him an interesting reason: There are many people in this city of Corinth whom the Lord has claimed for his own. In other words Paul’s work had just begun. God was saying in effect, “Paul, you need to settle down and get on with it. I am at work here, and you must trust me and stick it out”

Are those words that you need to hear?

Is God saying to you, “I am at work here, and you must trust me and stick it out”?