Turn, Stay, Go — Navigating the journey of life with our Lord.
Paul was famous for his missionary journeys, taking the Gospel around different cities, travelling by land and by sea. Many Bibles have maps in the back(which aren’t looked at very often), but some of these maps usually show Paul’s journeys, which formed part of his life’s journey.
Turn – when they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us”. Acts 16:7,9. ( Saint Patrick had a similar vision of a man calling him to come over to Ireland ).
Stay – ‘One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision. Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city. So Paul stayed there for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God’. Acts 18:9,10,11.
Go – …I saw the Lord speaking, “Quickly, leave Jerusalem immediately, because they will not accept your testimony about me”. Acts 22:18.
The Lord gives us free will to make our choices and take our journeys, but He also speaks to us and directs us to keep us on Heaven’s path for our lives. Our daily walk is part of our life’s journey and like Paul we want to ‘finish the race and complete the task the Lord has given us’. Acts 20:24.
Amy Carmichael, whom I mentioned yesterday, started out training to go to China with Hudson Taylor, but her health wasn’t good enough. Then she went to Japan for a year and finally to Ceylon/Sri Lanka. She lastly moved to Bangalore for her health, step by step, drawing closer to her life’s calling. We may not get to the centre of God’s purpose for our lives at once, there may be twists and turns along the way, but He is faithful and will guide us. Sometimes we have to walk with Him to see what and where He’s called us to.
God bless and keep you today.