Monday Devotional: May 19, 2025

Bible Reading: Acts 16:9-12 (NRSVUE)

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 therefore 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.

Paul and Timothy are eager to spread the gospel but have been struggling with their next move. The Holy Spirit had forbidden them to go to Asia. The Spirit of Jesus prevented them from going into Bithynia. Paul has a dream in the night and experiences a vision of a man pleading with him to come to Macedonia. This dream provides the needed direction, and they immediately get up and make their way to Macedonia.

What impresses me about this story is the immediacy of their action. Paul has a dream, and the next day they move. When I decided to relocate, the discernment process took a couple of years and filled most of a journal. The actual move — finding new job, selling the house, packing and moving, and then settling into a new house — took the better part of a year. Rather than taking time to reflect, much less form a committee and do strategic planning, Paul makes his decision based on a dream of where God wants him to be. What opportunities might Paul have missed if he had not acted immediately? Some commentators note that Paul’s trip to Macedonia, part of modern-day Greece, led to the first account of conversion on the continent of Europe, a critical step in the establishment of Christianity there.

A powerful vision can transform our journey — if we are open to it. In turn, living out God’s vision can transform the world around us. If we lack openness, what opportunities might we miss? Of course, we also can make rash decisions, which differs from following a vision. Perhaps the key comes in remaining open to God’s direction and measuring our plans against it. Paul receives a dream that sets his course for Macedonia, and he pursues it.

Prayer

Be our vision, O God. Help us open ourselves to your direction. Transform our journeys. Amen.

By George R. Graham, The Upper Room Disciplines 2016, page 147.

Bible Study

“Embracing Life” By Von W. Unruh

Unit 2: Living Water

Session Title: Rivers of Living Water
Focal Passage: John 7:37-46
Background Text: John 7
Purpose Statement: To celebrate Jesus’ gift of living water that brings eternal life.

Questions:

• Where does your water come from? Do you trust Jesus to send you His Spirit as much as you trust the water to flow when you turn on the tap?
• When you were in a wilderness where Jesus’ Spirit poured forth like water?
• How can you, your class, and your church be the voice of Jesus calling out to invite people to come and drink? What’s holding you back?

Zoom Session

Monday, May 19, 2025, from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

(For Zoom Link, send an email to [email protected])

In-Person Session

Wednesday, May 21, 2025, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm, Conference Room, McGee Building.