"Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 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." (Acts 16:6-8, NIV)
And in Troas, Our Lord Jesus changed their travel plans.
"Paul and his companions," wanted to preach in Asia. Jesus intervened and took them to Greece. How many times in our lives does this happen, and happen with the same results as in our text, as in, we get it right?
Many people have dreams for their lives, visions of what they want to do and accomplish. Many of these seem quite noble and Kingdom oriented. Thus, we have our text. The difference between so many and Paul, however, is that too often we stay in or go to our "asia." A person can be convinced, even have a "prophetic word" as to "where" we should be and what we should be about. But have we, can we hear the voice of Jesus when He comes to take us to a "place" which we never imagined, perhaps even loathed?
Our Lord Jesus made it quite clear, "Whoever serves Me must follow Me." There is just no negotiation on this. Many people who seem to be "serving" Jesus are not following Jesus. How is this possible? Well, one can do "serving" things, preaching, teaching, missions, feeding the poor, passing out tracts, all of which are very "Kingdom." Yet the danger is to do all this without, "follow Me." We tend so much towards, "whoever serves," whoever prays about, whoever gets a "word" about. The most "difficult" part is the, "follow Me."
I guess this is not good to talk about when you don't have an answer for, "Well, how does one follow Jesus?" Work on it.
Father, in Jesus' Name, I do want to serve You, but mostly I want to follow You. Then I know that my serving will be Your service, not mine. Amen.
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And in Troas, Our Lord Jesus changed their travel plans.
"Paul and his companions," wanted to preach in Asia. Jesus intervened and took them to Greece. How many times in our lives does this happen, and happen with the same results as in our text, as in, we get it right?
Many people have dreams for their lives, visions of what they want to do and accomplish. Many of these seem quite noble and Kingdom oriented. Thus, we have our text. The difference between so many and Paul, however, is that too often we stay in or go to our "asia." A person can be convinced, even have a "prophetic word" as to "where" we should be and what we should be about. But have we, can we hear the voice of Jesus when He comes to take us to a "place" which we never imagined, perhaps even loathed?
Our Lord Jesus made it quite clear, "Whoever serves Me must follow Me." There is just no negotiation on this. Many people who seem to be "serving" Jesus are not following Jesus. How is this possible? Well, one can do "serving" things, preaching, teaching, missions, feeding the poor, passing out tracts, all of which are very "Kingdom." Yet the danger is to do all this without, "follow Me." We tend so much towards, "whoever serves," whoever prays about, whoever gets a "word" about. The most "difficult" part is the, "follow Me."
I guess this is not good to talk about when you don't have an answer for, "Well, how does one follow Jesus?" Work on it.
Father, in Jesus' Name, I do want to serve You, but mostly I want to follow You. Then I know that my serving will be Your service, not mine. Amen.
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When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
