by Pastor Douglas Brauner

Going Where the Holy Spirit Leads

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us!’”
Acts 16:9 New Living Translation

Most of us have dealt with the desire to dig our heals in when asked to do something outside of our comfort zone. We might not speak the words above out loud, but we’ve felt them deep in our soul. I have heard people say that the last thing they want to do is go to a funeral or visit a someone in the hospital. These can be stressful experiences, experiences where we do not want to feel the emotional pain of doing something difficult.

God’s vision to Peter troubled him when confronted with a dream to kill and eat unclean animals, something he had never done. God’s command was radical, one that Peter might not have contemplated otherwise.

There is no evidence that Paul, when also confronted with a vision, ever said, “But I don’t want to go to Macedonia!” even though the call might have been as radical as Peter’s vision. He was called to go outside his comfort zone, to a people he had not known and a culture that was different from his. And Paul received strength for this call from the community as they determined together that this was God’s will (Acts 16:10). Joined by Silas and Luke, Paul sails for Macedonia on God’s adventure, an adventure that still impacts us today.

We might not see a vision, or hear the voice of God telling us to step out of our comfort zone, but we have the Scriptures that remind us of God’s calling. Each one of us will step our of our comfort zone in different ways. It might be a call to visit the sick in the hospital, build homes in Mexico, or talk with our neighbor about Christ. But know this; the God who calls you will strength you as he did Paul.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado