SCRIPTURE: Acts 16:1-15
OBSERVATION:
Does Paul break his own rules here by having Timothy circumcised (Galatians 2:3-5)?
One possible reason is that he did it to keep that issue from getting in the way of his missionary work, not to please people but to serve the cause of the gospel. Was it to protect Timothy as a beginning church leader?
It is interesting that Paul has Timothy circumcised while he is telling the churches about the decisions of the Council – which stated that non-Jews did NOT need to be circumcised (Acts 15:1-11).
Somehow the Spirit directed them to where they should or should not go. The passage mentions only one vision, so it is not clear how He guided them on the other occasions.
The Lord opened Lydia’s heart to receive Paul’s message.
Lydia’s whole household was baptized!
APPLICATION:
Should I change my practices for the sake of the gospel – not to please fellow Christians but to remove obstacles for non-Christians? If so, what practices?
Do I pay attention to how the Lord may be directing me in my work? Is He prompting me to stay or to go, and also where to go?
If it is the Lord Who opens the heart, then that releases me from feeling bad or guilty if no one seems to respond to my message.
My task is to speak, to give my best, it is up to God to open and change the heart.
PRAYER:
Lord, help me to see what things are important and worth fighting for, and what things are secondary. Help me to remove whatever obstacles are in the way of sharing your message. Help me to follow Your leading as I do my work, and to trust that You will work through me. Amen.
As far as it depends on me, I must get along with all mankind. Once again I see that Word of God come alive by Timothy’s circumcision, for the sake of the advance of the Gospel. Not I, but He must increase. By this act, Paul and Timothy did not become a stumbling block in proclaiming the Gospel.
These apostles were ‘intune’ with the Spirit and the Word. God spoke to them various ways His work/wonders to perform. He even spoke to them by visions. They followed and the Lord blessed their work.
In a new culture, strange as it may seem, my greetings has changed as not to insult or stand in the way of His Word. I am not a kissing type of guy. But . . . And my teaching of the Gospel has become more elementary in the class so that the students hearing the message may understand. For some it may be the first time.
Lord, may I have the eyes that see Jesus and the ears that hear the Spirit, so tnat as I continue my journey of joy it will be according to Your purposes for me.