The Man from Macedonia

Acts 16:9-14

“9 During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 When he had seen the vision, we immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia, being convinced that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them. 11 We set sail from Troas and took a straight course to Samothrace, the following day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city for some days. 13 On the sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there. 14 A certain woman named Lydia, a worshiper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul. 15 When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home.” And she prevailed upon us.”

Paul went to Macedonia at the urging of the Holy Spirit in a vision.  The vision depicted a man pleading for help.  Yet, the first person Paul met in Macedonia was a woman.  She was an unusual woman for her time, in that she owned her own business and was wealthy, and was independent.  She and her entire household were baptized into the faith after hearing Paul preach.

It would have been easy for Paul to ignore Lydia and her household in search of the man he came to help.  But Paul always saw the hand of God wherever he was led and in whoever he met

Sometimes God leads us in a straight path, and at other times the path has many unexpected detours.  The important thing is to keep listening to God’s voice, keep trusting in God’s love, keep doing the work God has called you to do….

and you will always be in the right place at the right time. 

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)