16 Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a DISCIPLE NAMED TIMOTHY LIVED, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek. 2 The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. Acts 16
On our way along life’s journey we will meet people whom God has placed on our path, to become a significant part of His Plan for our lives. We need to be alert to such encounters, because they will help us fulfill God’s plan for our lives.
Even the great apostle Paul had such encounters. The world calls them coincidences and believers often refer to them as God-incidences, but people whom God brings into our lives are very important!
Timothy was a disciple, someone under discipline, before he met Paul. We might look at this relationship and think the younger man received all the benefits and the apostle was constantly giving into Timothy to build him up. There is truth in that, but later on Paul was to acknowledge how valuable Timothy was to him and Paul had a deep love for his young protege.
19 I hope in the Lord Jesus (PAUL WAS SURRENDERED TO THE LEADING OF THE LORD) to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20 I HAVE NO ONE ELSE LIKE HIM, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. Philippians 2
In Acts 16:6-10, Paul was refused permission to preach the Gospel in Asia and had his dream of the man from Macedonia calling him to ‘come over to them’. So they eventually ended up in Philippi and went out of the city gate to find a place of prayer, where they met Lydia, a dealer in purple. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message and she and her household were baptised (household salvation), makes life so much better.
15 When she and the members of her household were baptised, 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
Paul and his companions led people to the Lord and immediately received material help from those people. Lydia is often called the first believer or convert to the Gospel in Europe. God had Paul speak to a woman first, but she was in a position to help him and his companions. Another Divine appointment.
We received a prophetic word yesterday from a visiting minister which centred a lot on relationships. The Lord was keeping some people away from us, others we would have to have a heart to heart talk with. Still others had a different vision, TWO VISIONS EQUALS DIVISION and some just wanted to use and then discard us. We need discernment to know the people God wants IN OUR LIFE FOR THE PRESENT TIME and those who should not be with us. Paul and even the Lord had to make similar decisions.
May the Lord bless and keep us today. Immanuel, God is with us.