June 19 - Acts 16:6

[Paul and Timothy] went through

the region of Phrygia and Galatia

and were prevented by the Holy Spirit

from speaking the message

in the province of Asia.

Acts 16:6

Paul and Timothy wanted to turn east.

The Holy Spirit turned them west.

If Paul had his way, the Gospel might have circumnavigated the world from left to right. But the Holy Spirit opened the path from Greece to Rome and to the rest of Europe.

The course of history brought the Gospel to North America … and now to Asia.

In Matthew 24:14 Jesus says, “This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations. And then the end will come.” Based on this text, some ministries are trying to translate the Gospel into all languages to help prompt the coming of Christ. In Asia – to where the Gospel has spread now – many are trying to complete the circumnavigation of the Gospel, believing that will hasten the end.

Our point in these days is discerning the voice of God. I wish I could say I knew how the Spirit spoke to Paul, pushing him to Europe first. Based on this one verse, I can’t. I can celebrate, however, that the Spirit is alive and active and speaking.

And the question is, when did he speak to Paul? When Paul was already seeking to do God’s will.

Paul was aligned. He was pointed in the right direction. And he could hear when the leading came from that direction.

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who wants

good aim