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Acts Reading Plan | Week 12 | Day 2
Prayer
Allow some silence for your soul to catch up with your body.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Thank God as you come to spend time with Him that He is worthy of all your trust and that He will guide you through whatever you face today.
Bible Reading: Acts 16:1-10
Read these verses three times slowly.
Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek. The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.
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. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
Reflection & Questions
Paul lost Barnabas in yesterday’s reading, but today he picks up Timothy, who will be a significant partner in spreading the gospel to the whole of the known world at the time. Paul circumcised Timothy, in order that there is no hindrance as they spread the gospel to Jews.
What is fascinating here is the guidance of the Holy Spirit to their travels. He hindered them in some places and opened doors in others. We’re told they were “kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia” and “the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to” enter a town called Bithynia. We don’t know how or why the Spirit stopped them, but Paul was tuned into walking by the Spirit – discerning circumstances, impressions in his own spirit and the voice of others – to see how the Spirit is leading.
So when the Spirit gave Paul a dream of the people of Macedonia begging them to come and preach the gospel to them, he knew it was time to roll.
As believers, we are guided by the same Spirit. We are not alone in making life decisions. We are not alone in reaching our ONE. We’re to learn to discern the Spirit’s guidance in our lives. We’re not alone and that is very good news.
- Have you seen the Spirit guide you in your life? How?
- Is there something you need guidance on today?
Prayer
As you respond to today’s reading in prayer, thank God that He is your guide and bring to Him any specific situations that you need His guidance.
Worship Song
You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:
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Questions?
Ed Applegate
