Through all the accounts in...
Illustration
Through all the accounts in Acts of Paul's missionary journeys, there is a clear sense of
God working in the background. A man of Macedonia appears to him in a dream,
pleading with him to bring the gospel to that land. Paul sails there, and a little while later,
by a Macedonian riverbank, he is led to the pious and wealthy merchant, Lydia, who will
be instrumental in establishing the church in Philippi.
An old story from Scotland illustrates what sort of obstacles God's will can overcome in order to build the church. In a tiny village, the Church of Scotland's building stood right across the street from the tiny building of the Free Kirk. One day the Free Kirk's building burned down, and the pastor was forced to go to the Church of Scotland, cap in hand, and ask if his congregation could use a room in their building for worship until they rebuilt.
The Church of Scotland pastor received him none too warmly. He would take it to his church's governing board, the Session, but he could give no guarantee that his elders would be receptive.
On the day of the meeting, the Free Kirk pastor paced the halls, while the Session debated long and loudly behind closed doors. At last the pastor came out to announce their affirmative decision: "It isn't right, and it isn't proper," he declared glumly, "but it does appear to be the will of God."
An old story from Scotland illustrates what sort of obstacles God's will can overcome in order to build the church. In a tiny village, the Church of Scotland's building stood right across the street from the tiny building of the Free Kirk. One day the Free Kirk's building burned down, and the pastor was forced to go to the Church of Scotland, cap in hand, and ask if his congregation could use a room in their building for worship until they rebuilt.
The Church of Scotland pastor received him none too warmly. He would take it to his church's governing board, the Session, but he could give no guarantee that his elders would be receptive.
On the day of the meeting, the Free Kirk pastor paced the halls, while the Session debated long and loudly behind closed doors. At last the pastor came out to announce their affirmative decision: "It isn't right, and it isn't proper," he declared glumly, "but it does appear to be the will of God."
