Vision

Acts 16: 9-15v 9-10 “During the night Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia. The man urged Paul, “Come to Macedonia to help us.” As soon as Paul had seen the vision, we immediately looked for a way to go to Macedonia.”

Paul had a vision. Immediately, Paul and Silas went on the journey to spread the good news to Macedonia. They travelled to Philippi a Roman colony. They went out to a place where they thought Jewish people gathered for prayer. They sat down and started talking to the women gathered there. In the group was a woman, Lydia. She was listening because the Lord made her willing to pay attention to what Paul said. She and her household were baptized, and she insisted that Paul and Silas stay at her home. So, they did.

I lived for a few years in the city of Bath in the UK. A very popular place even today to live and to visit because of the vision of one family, John Wood senior and junior who designed the residential buildings to blend into the municipal buildings and be part of the city landscape using the local Bath Stone. Starting with a vision can have long lasting effects! From the map we learn that the places mentioned in the bible are real. That the vision God gave Paul and Silas was possible to do with the transportation available at the time. God used what was available locally , like the Bath stone, for his vision.

We also see that gathering where others already meet gives those who God has made willing to pay attention a chance to hear the good news.

That there are tangible benefits from this process. Paul and Silas found a place to live whilst preaching.

Trust in God for the vision, He might be “out of this world” but uses the things that are available around you to achieve the results!

Prayer: Holy God who has a vision for the world that is good, guide us to do your work today and every day. Amen