His Will

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

HIS WILL

Acts 18:18-22

18 Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken. 19 They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. 21 But as he left, he promised, "I will come back if it is God's will." Then he set sail from Ephesus. 22 When he landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.

NIV

We are at another travel log giving some of the places Paul visited. There is one truth in this narrative that bears our attention. When Paul arrived in Ephesus and went into the synagogue to reason with the Jews, they wanted him to stay longer; however, he declined. What he told them is where we find the story in our lives. He promised them he would come back if it was God's will. Although Paul traveled to many places, we have already seen the Holy Spirit keeping him from going to some cities, then giving him that vision of the man in Macedonia, so he went there. In this narrative, his statement reveals the whole purpose of his life: to follow the Spirit's leading. He did not go where the Spirit stopped him, and he went where the Spirit led him. Is that not the way we are supposed to live as believers? Why do we think we have the right to decide where not to go, and where we should go? Can we make our own decisions about what we are to do or where we are going? That seems counterintuitive to the life of someone who has declared they are following Jesus. That raises another question about Christians in general. When we call ourselves a Christian, what are we saying? Are we declaring that we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, or are we just saying we are a Christian, meaning we believe in God? However, the point is whether we have decided to follow Jesus? That would mean we have accepted or received the Holy Spirit, implying that we are listening to the Spirit's leading. How, then, can we decide anything if we are relying on doing what is within God's will? Paul promised to return if it was God's will, and should be the key of life for all believers, God's will. Are we living according to our will, or His will? Do we think we live according to His will, but actually live according to ours, or what we think is right? Let us not try to lead by our will, but simply follow according to His will.