Hello Everyone,
[A ground-level look at the Egnatian Way near Kavala, Greece; complete with telephone commincations and street lamps]
And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.—Acts 16:9
Paul was on his second mission and knew those people. Macedonians—the name had become synonymous with “terrorist.”
Paul recalled his history, geography, and cultural lessons from school. The Greek king, Philip II of Macedon, began to capture city-states from the province of Thrace. His son, Alexander the Great, was a brilliant military strategist who led Macedonia to become a world power until 323 B.C. Alexander was responsible for the cultural and linguistic Hellenization of his empire. Upon his death, the kingdom was divided among his four generals. In 167 B.C. Macedonia was conquered by Imperial Rome, thus making it accessible to every citizen of the Empire. The Macedonian region was valuable for its gold, silver, and timber and it provided a land route for trade between Asia and the West. What Paul didn’t know was that ancient Macedonia would eventually encompass the modern countries of northern Greece, southern Yugoslavia and Bulgaria. He also didn’t know that Macedonia would fall into oblivion and not become a recognized state again until 1991, when the name was applied to a small Yugoslav republic, a mere shadow of its former size and glory. But it was the people that troubled Paul most about going to Macedonia. Since their inclusion into the Empire, Macedonians had only proven to be trouble—bitter at their defeat by the Romans.
Deep in his own thought while on the ship from Troas (in Asia) to Neapolis (in Macedonia), Paul had to wonder why on earth God wanted him to go so far off the beaten path. Paul must have thought a better strategy would be to send some backslidden pew-warmer from Jerusalem to go to the remotest part of the earth. But that wasn’t God’s plan nor Paul’s response.
And after he had seen the vision, immediately [at once] we endeavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering [with full confidence] that the Lord had called us [know for sure] for to preach the gospel unto them. —Acts 16:10
What is the “vision” Jesus Christ is giving believers today? It is not about our skill. It is not about the potential for success. It is not about the location or personal prestige. It is not about the working conditions. It is not even about the people.
Jim
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