Did I Miss Something?

Our pastor's Mother's Day Sermon this year was from Acts 16 about how Timothy's

mother and grandmother played such a vital role in him coming to know Christ. As I was thinking about the encouragement I had received from the sermon I was compelled to read that entire chapter and the one following.

As Timothy joined Paul and Silas traveling from town to town I'm sure he felt very honored to be a part of God's plan and calling. I'm also sure he was encouraged as he saw other believers being strengthened spiritually and the church growing daily in numbers. It had to be a very "mountain-top" experience which led Timothy to believe he truly was in the will of God deciding to travel with them. As life would have it though, unbeknown to Timothy and the others, things were about to change abruptly.

During their travels, as a busy day was coming to an end and they were settling in for the night, Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia standing and begging them for help. Paul told the others and they each agreed God was calling them to Macedonia to preach the gospel. They "got ready at once" to leave the following day. After sailing into two ports, changing ships and being told by God what areas to avoid preaching in along the way they finally arrived at their destination. As they began praying, teaching and making friends, they were making quite a few enemies as well. One of those busy days ended with Paul and Silas being arrested, beaten then thrown into prison, leaving young Timothy alone in a strange place with people he barley knew. I wonder if he ever came to a place of it looking like maybe he had not heard the voice of God after all. That would have definitely made me question my ability to hear God! Timothy and his companions felt God had opened the door for them to go to Macedonia so they went. I'm sure Timothy had his idea of what he would do and how things would go but...

You see, we're no different from those travelers from so long ago. We talk to God, hear His heart and move according to where we feel He is leading. Also, like Timothy and his friends, life just gets in the way during our journey. All we can do is ask God for direction, move in the way we feel He is leading then trust that He will keep us. He has promised to direct our steps as we trust in Him. Jesus told us as His sheep we hear His voice. God will never fail to perform His word. Read Acts chapter 16 for yourself and be encouraged! Though the troubles of life will come and you may face prisons you never imagined God's plan has always been to demolish prison walls and set men free.

What's amazing is that He uses us to shake down those walls and bring Him glory.

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