God Knows Everything You Will Ever Do

(Read Acts 16)

Life didn’t get any easier for Paul and others involved in the development of the early church. Paul had already traveled in this region before on a previous mission trip. According to William Barclay, Paul’s first mission was about five years before the events of chapter 16. We can assume that Paul was eager to see for himself the fruits of the work of the Lord among these churches since his prior visit.

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. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
Acts 16:6-10

I have always been confused by this passage until I dug a little deeper to research this. If one of our responsibilities as a believer of Christ is to spread the news to as many people as we can, why was Paul, a highly qualified expert, not allowed to proceed with his mission into Asia? God was saying no. God’s plan includes closing doors and opening doors according to what He knows, not what we know. Why didn’t God want Paul to continue on to Asia Minor? Maybe because he wasn’t the right person in the right place at the right time to bring the gospel to them?

There have been many times when I’ve questioned, not debated, why God has made a surprising ruling in my life. I have been rejected for job offers, turned down on contract proposals, and missed milestones due to illness. Why? Because God didn’t deem it so. Sometimes, it’s as simple as that. My views on the world were much more selfish and narcissistic when I was in college. One night during my junior year, I was flirting with a girl visiting from another school. A fraternity brother of mine, who thought she was digging him, wanted to fight me because of my interest in her. I laughed because we were clearly not in our right minds. She didn’t give either one of us the time of day. An hour later, I saw the most beautiful, funny, and warm woman I had ever seen in my life. Her smile lit up the room.

We talked for hours. We went on our first date two days later, and we’ve been married for more than 36 years. Garth Brooks wrote a song, called “Unanswered Prayers.” The chorus strikes home with me every time I think about that night so long ago. “Some of God’s greatest gifts are all too often unanswered…Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.” While I don’t believe that God doesn’t answer our prayers, I know that sometimes His answer is “Not yet,” or “No.”

On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.
Acts 16:13-15

Lydia and Paul had first met outside the gates of Philippi, a city in Macedonia which is now part of modern Greece. She was a religious person, but not a Christian. As a “dealer in purple,” she was probably a very wealthy businesswoman. Purple was an expensive and somewhat rare commodity in those days. Lydia had resources to live in her own home and devote money towards her place of worship. God had a plan to bring Lydia to the Gospel and His plan was capped off with her Baptism. Lydia was the first in her community to commit to Jesus Christ, and the first convert in Europe. So, God said no to Paul about Asia, but he made Europe blossom.

How many times do we think we know what’s in our best interest only to find out that something else unforeseen and unplanned is much better? I heard a news story of a swimmer attacked by a great white shark who had to have emergency surgery. During his procedure, the surgeons discovered a tumor inside of him. The report stated that this discovery saved his life. No one wants to be attacked by a shark for any reason, but the story does illustrate God’s saving grace.

As a contributing, active, worshipper of her temple, Lydia probably assumed that there was nowhere else she could go with her faith. She patted herself on the back for all of her good works. “The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.” Lydia didn’t know what she was missing. It’s easier to see the big picture when you’re the One who sees the big picture.

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.
Acts 16:25-26

For those experiencing the earthquake, the cold, dark fear would have been almost unbearable. We know that earthquakes are often caused by the shifting of the earth’s plates beneath the crust. Imagine what the people in Phillipi were thinking. Imagine what the jailer was thinking! His life was hanging by a thread as soon as the doors flew open and the chains fell. Roman law permitted execution for allowing prison escapes. Looking at this story from our perspective (hindsight) and God’s all-knowing perspective, the earthquake had nothing to do with Paul and Silas’ freedom from prison. It had absolutely everything to do with the salvation of the prison guard and his family.

The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved — you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized.
Acts 16:29-33

On the surface, one might think that Paul’s invitation to salvation for the jailer was too easy. They might think it invites a faith that’s too-easy and grace that’s too cheap. But, Paul never called the prison guard to repent because he was already repenting. We see his earnest and humble repentance in his actions as he fell down trembling. From our part, there is no grace that’s too cheap. Christ died for our sins. He did this so that those who believe in Him will be saved for life eternal. Christ’s grace is what drives us to Him. His grace makes us want to worship, follow, and serve in His name. He paid the price, not us.

Paul and Silas demonstrated their faith to the jailer and the other prisoners in a pretty unconventional manner. They had been whipped and were bound together in chains, lying on a hard, ruddy, stone floor. Instead of collapsing in fear, they sang loudly, praising God. They weren’t full of worry, they were joyous. Joyous in their relationship with God. They didn’t know they would be freed, but they knew they were free. The prison guard was more impressed by the faith of Paul and Silas than his own future. In much the same way, there are people watching us right now. They form opinions about God based on our lives. Someone once said that a Christian is an epistle, written by God and read by man. We are the only Bible that some will ever read.

Not everyone will come to believe in Jesus. God calls those according to His will at His appointed time. God will come to those who are ready to accept him at the perfect time. Your relationship with Christ saves you. It also shapes and empowers others when you’re not looking.

“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.'”
Matthew 25:34

Key Applications:
Do you have the faith of Paul and Silas? Sometimes yes. Sometimes no. Here are three concepts to help embody active, growing, and saving faith.

1. Do you have intellectual awareness of what your faith is about? “You can’t have faith in nothing; there has to be content to the faith” (R.C. Sproul). The Bible says that we must believe in something, but it must be God’s word. We must believe the right information. Read Acts 16. What do you think God is telling you in this chapter? Do you see any messages?
2. Do you believe and are you persuaded by the truth of God’s word? Are you convinced intellectually that all that God says about Himself is true. At Easter, when you’re hearing a message about Jesus’ empty tomb, do you believe it — or is it tradition? When you’re singing Amazing Grace, do you feel it? Empty your heart of doubt and skepticism. Don’t let seeds of skepticism unravel your faith. When you are feeling a temptation to disbelieve, do one thing — pray. Pray for God’s grace to thicken the armor around you. Pray for Him to strengthen you in your struggles.
3. Do you trust Jesus with your life? Do you trust Him with your family’s life? You can understand something to be true, but if you don’t have the trust to back it up, that truth isn’t much to stand on. Place your entire being; awareness, conviction, and trust on Christ. Then this faith can open doors, break chains, and set you free.

Where else in your life can you live out the teachings of Christ? Look for next week’s Devotion.