The Daily Word: Wednesday, June 24th, 2020
2 Kings 6:1-7:20
Acts 15:36-16:15
Psalm 142:1-7
Proverbs 17:24-25|
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them. – Acts 16:10
Timothy, Paul and Silas were on a hot streak. Everywhere they went, people gave their lives to Jesus. They saw signs, miracles and wonders! The strengthened the churches they visited, which, “…increased in number daily” (Acts 16:5).
But then the Lord seemed to shut them down. They were, “…forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia” (v. 6). They, “…tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them” (v. 7). Why would God deliberately prevent these men from going into Asia and Bithynia (modern-day Turkey) and preaching the Gospel?
Because He needed them available to go somewhere else:
And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” – Acts 16:9
What you think is a closed door was actually God keeping you available. He may not have given you the job, the relationship, or the open door you thought you wanted! But He was really keeping you available for something better.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for keeping me available! I refuse to see a closed door as a missed opportunity; instead I choose to see it as a necessary redirection! I pray You would close any door I’m not supposed to walk through, and swing wide open any door through which I’m supposed to pass, in Jesus’ name!
Archives
See commentary from this day in 2014.
See commentary from this day in 2015.
See commentary from this day in 2016.
See commentary from this day in 2017.
See commentary from this day in 2018.
See commentary from this day in 2019.
© Michael D. White, 2020. All rights reserved.