“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.” – Acts 16: 6-7
Who was the greatest missionary of all time? The Apostle Paul. He was also the greatest theologian in the history of the church. His early missionary journeys are chronicled in the book of Acts in the New Testament and offer incredible insight into not only sharing the Gospel but also on letting God lead.
In Acts 16, we read of Paul’s second mission trip traveling from what was part of modern-day Turkey and heading Northwest. There’s no doubt that Paul was heading towards Asia when a drastic change of course took place. Now, I don’t know why God in His sovereignty chose to close the door towards China, India, Japan, and that entire region of the world – but He did. Instead, God directed Paul to Europe and for 1,900 years Europe would become a stronghold of Christianity, eventually expanding to the Americas and much later to Asia. Because Paul was sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and flexible enough in his planning to let God lead, I am writing this today as a Jesus follower in the United States.
So how about you? How sensitive are you to the leading of the Holy Spirit? Do you allow God to lead and sometimes even change your plans? Plans and goals are good –as long as we’re flexible enough to trust God to take the lead. With God in control, you never know where the journey might take you, but it will always be best!
