We are Merely Human Vessels

Acts 18:7-11

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁷ And he departed from there and entered the house of a certain man named Justus,^[a] one who worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue. ⁸ Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized

⁹ Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; ¹⁰ for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.” ¹¹ And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2018:%207%20-%2011&version=NKJV)

If you recall the verses prior, Paul shook his garment to rid his responsibility to witness to the Jews.  He then went to a believers home and led a Jewish leader and his household to the Lord.  I think it is amazing to see God work!  Sometimes we try to rid ourselves of those who we think are too thick headed to even reason with and then God speaks to them and there is a change that no one can believe.  Sometimes we get so busy in trying to do God’s work that we forget it is only through Him that we are working at all!  We try to give ourselves or others credit when the credit is not due us but rather is the Holy Spirit’s.   We are merely the human vessels in which He does His work.  Paul was fed up with these people but the Lord is steadfast in His pursuit.

I would never have thought Paul to be one who would be afraid but the next verses indicate that he wasn’t as strong on the inside as he was on the outside.  He had just ridiculed the Jews and when they got upset bad things could happen.  But God told him that there were many in the city that believed on Him and that he would not be attacked.  I have to wonder if some of these people were not already believers but ones that the Lord knew would become believers through the witness of Paul.  Paul had the assurance that he was where God wanted him and he remained there for over a year.  This must have been a significant time to Paul as he generally traveled much.  I have lived in the small town I was born in all of my life, except for college days, so 1 -1/2 years seems pretty short to me!  I wonder what all the work was that Paul did.  I have to think that while in the city he built the believers up, didn’t stop telling people about Jesus but did it outside of the Synagogue where they were more open to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

As I think about this I have to wonder sometimes if people would be more open to the word of God if we would speak to them outside of the church walls.  So many times we think we need to bring people to church in order for them to hear the word of God when in fact the word of God is on the tip of our tongues.  It is our responsibility to go into the homes, get involved in their lives, and become witnesses for Him rather than bringing them to church and hoping the Sunday school teacher or the preacher will convince them that they need to be saved. 

As you seek Him today, ask Him to show you where He wants you to go.  Ask Him to speak through you and give you strength and a calm assurance that you are in the center of His will.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila