Responding to Needs

KEY VERSE: “A vision appeared to Paul in the night. … After he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the LORD had called us for to preach the Gospel unto them.” —Acts 16:9,10

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Acts 16:9-12, 16-23

OUTSTANDING IN THE life of the Apostle Paul was his zeal in doing the Lord’s will. In response to the call, “Come over into Macedonia and help us,” he immediately went into this new field of service. Paul and those with him went into Philippi seeking an opportunity to witness for the truth. They had a wonderful experience there! It was true in those early days, even as it still is today, that people in general did not accept the truth, and the apostles and other missionaries must have become discouraged. There were only a few occasions when a considerable number became interested.

But the experience of Paul and his fellow-workers in Macedonia was one they never forgot, not because a large number accepted the Gospel, but because of the genuine zeal manifested on the part of those who did accept the Gospel message. Among them was Lydia, the ‘seller of purple’. She invited Paul and Silas to make use of her home, where the brethren met together and rejoiced in the truth. Later, while in prison at Rome, Paul wrote to the church at Philippi expressing his joy in their fellowship, which had been precious to him “from the first day until now.”—Phil. 1:3-5.

There is no joy this side of the vail greater than sharing the truth with others who have ‘hearing ears’. How Paul’s heart must have leaped for joy that Sabbath Day when he found listening ears among those gathered by the riverside for prayer! But there were also trials to be encountered. God knows how to blend the bitter with the sweet in every Christian’s life in order to assure that refinement of character for which he is looking. And so persecution soon arose from opposers of the truth, and as a result Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown into prison.

The simple fundamentals of belief in Christ, and the surrender of the fleshly will to do the will of God, was no doubt grasped clearly and quickly by those whose minds were not cluttered with all sorts of false theories. In any case, we are certain that the apostles did not baptize converts until they understood the seriousness of what they were doing.

Belief in Christ, and the symbolizing of consecration to do God’s will, is only the first step along the narrow way. The whole Christian life is still to come, in which we must learn the details and principles of the truth and apply them in our daily walk with God. Paul, too, was baptized into Christ at the very beginning of his Christian career, but he continued to learn, and continued to grow. When writing from prison in Rome to the church at Philippi, he felt that he was still pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Paul’s statement, “This one thing I do,” was characteristic of his whole Christian life, nor did he become weary in well-doing. Although his life was filled with blessed experiences, it was, nevertheless, one also of severe trials. Yet he never thought of ‘turning back’. Even while in prison at Rome, he still rejoiced in the privilege of suffering with Christ, if by any means he might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

There is a valuable lesson in this for us. One of the qualities we must develop is that of endurance. Often Christians run well for a time, but then become weary. We, like Paul, should fight a good fight to the end.

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