by Pastor Rich Carlson

There are several interesting moments in this section of Acts. My Bible atlas tells me this part of Paul’s journey proceeded through modern Turkey and into northern Greece.

The early church is an intriguing study to me. Some contemporary church members want us to be just like the early church. Others think Christians should have continued to grow beyond the early church. The former group believes the “growth” is away from God’s ideal. The latter group thinks the early church model is too simplistic for our complicated culture. I like to remain in the middle—learning from the fervor of the early church as I try and make application to my life and church today. I think we can do both. So her are my musings about some of what we read in Acts 16.

Paul met Timothy in Lystra and asked him to join them in their travels. Before Timothy joined them, Paul had him circumcised—the very act that Paul had elsewhere said was unnecessary for Gentiles. So why would he do such a thing? He did it for two reasons, according to Scripture (always a good place to find answers, and a good place to stop speculation if it needs to be stopped!). First, Timothy came from a culturally split home: Mom was a Jew, dad was a Greek. I don’t know if it is the total answer but the Luke says Timothy’s mother was more than a Jew; he calls her a “Jewess believer,” which to me implies that she was a Jewish Christian. What better way to illustrate cooperation between groups with different views, than to take the son of a family that doesn’t believe in the need to be circumcised, and do it anyway because of the second reason (remember, I said there were two reasons in Scripture).

The second reason was, according to Acts, “because of the Jews in the area.” Apparently in this local situation, Paul thought it was unnecessary to antagonize the Jews whom he was also seeking to reach with the gospel. It reminds me of the fact that elsewhere Paul said, “I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22).

Next, Luke tells us, “As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey” (Acts 16:4) This sounds a bit controlling to me! I’m not sure that strategy works real well today! But the result back then was positive. “The churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers” (Acts 16:5). Maybe there is wisdom in leadership. Maybe we need to see that more today too. Maybe leaders need to realize the importance of their leadership more. Maybe working together and trusting each other can be an asset to God’s mission.

It is interesting that the Spirit of God would not let Paul and his associates preach just anywhere (Acts 16:6). They would arrive at a certain city and the “Spirit of God” would not let them even enter the place. My first question was, Why not? But—wouldn’t you know it—Luke doesn’t answer that question—at least not directly. Somehow these guys knew—but what they knew was that God’s Spirit was leading them, not how. When the Spirit said, “Not here,” they went on. When the Spirit said, “Here,” they went to work. Now that is confidence in God’s leading.

That confidence, I believe, comes from a tight connection with God and a focus on His mission, rather than on my plans. That, in my opinion, is what makes all the difference in the world as I try and understand God’s leading. I believe God still leads on matters that resolve my questions, not about the weather, or whether to buy a new car or a new computer, but about where and how He wants me to serve Him with my whole heart.

Rich Carlson is campus chaplain at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska. "God is Faithful" is adapted from the email devotionals he writes regularly for the Union College family. Rich enjoys filling his life with God, his family, and especially his five grandchildren.