Morning Moments

Read Acts 16:1-15
The story of Paul’s visit to Philippi is an interesting one. Paul had purposed to go into Asia, but was forbidden of the Holy Spirit. There was a “check” in his spirit about his intended journey. Remember that Jesus said, “I must needs go through Samaria.” When there is a constraint with God, there is sometimes a compulsion. When we hear from God, it is because we are to heed His call. Paul was sensitive to God’s leading, so when God said “No,” Paul said, “whoa (a term used to stop animals).” God’s “whoa” is as important as His “Go.”

After going through Samothracia and Neapolis they came to Philippi, where God had a woman from Asia with whom Paul was to share the gospel. That is pretty amazing. Paul had Asia on his mind and God had Lydia on His heart, so He led Paul to Lydia of Thyatira in Asia. I love the way God leads. It is like the young man I mentioned a couple of days ago. God put India on my heart and placed Sidney, who married a girl from India, in my path.

In any event there were three initial converts in Paul’s Philippi trip: A Saved Saleslady, A Justified Jailor, and A Delivered Damsel. Read the text.
One of the interesting comments in the text is regarding this woman Lydia. The text says, “Whose heart the Lord opened.” She thought she was there to sell her goods, but she was really there to meet her God. No one can meet God without His opening the heart. Jesus said, “No man can come unto me except the Spirit draws him.” Now I don’t understand all that, but I sure do believe it.

Lydia became open to what she heard because God opened her heart. My friend, if you do not allow God to open your heart, you will never “open up” to Him. The condition of the heart is more important than your church affiliation, than your doctrinal persuasion, or your denominational allegiance. Keep the main thing the main thing and that is the main thing. As preachers and pastors/teachers, we should let it be known that men, even godly men, will always differ over certain issues, but they may both have a heart for God.

I am reminded of Wesley and Whitfield. Wesley believed in the possibility of personal apostasy, whereas Whitfield did not. Someone asked Wesley if he believed he would see Whitfield in heaven. Wesley paused for a moment and replied, “No, I don’t think so because he will be so close to the throne and I will be so far back in the multitude.” Now that is esteeming your brother better than yourself. That is Christian Humility as opposed to Church Haughtiness.

What does it take for God to open my heart? Is there anything I can do? Is it just something God desires to do for some and not for others? No! He KNOWS the willing of my heart to know truth and do it. God is seeking men and women, we are not seeking God. No unbeliever seeks God. Only believers are told to seek Him in Scripture. So He has to initiate the work to get us interested. If we show no interest, there is no initiation.

Finally by way of illustration – Suppose I am watching TV and there is a commercial about Pop Corn. I had no previous thought of pop corn, but something inside was stimulated by the commercial, so maybe even without realizing it, I get up, go to the kitchen and make pop corn. The initiation led to the interest, but where there is no interest, there is no initiation. If I don't like pop corn, there is no interest in an initiation.

If we will just let God initiate the interest, He will then develop the desire and ultimately satisfy the stimulated sensation.

PRAYER: O God, help me to desire YOU above all else.