River of Life Community Church

Devotional!

George Wood tells of his first visit to the Sistine Chapel in Rome. Looking up to Michelangelo's great fresco of the "Last Judgment," he thought to himself, "Why is everyone raving about this work of art?" It's very dark. what had happened is that over the last four centuries, there have been so many candles burning in the Sistine Chapel that the smoke had gradually put a layer of gray over the painting. So when he saw how dark it was, he wasn't impressed at all. Now, many years later, it has been restored. All of the smudge is gone and the colors are radiant and alive, as though the painting has just been done yesterday. General Superintendent Wood (Assemblies of God) said, "that's what Pentecostalism, in its purist form, tries to do. It tries to erase the smudges on the church for the last twenty centuries and get back to what the early Christians believed and practiced." -From the book by George O. Wood, entitled, "Living in the Spirit."

An Open Door

Read Acts 14:1 through 16:40

Paul…having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia…. the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to…. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us” (Acts 16:6,7,9).

Twice God forbade Paul and his missionary party to go north into Asia, but directed them to Macedonia on the mainland of Greece. This caused the gospel to be spread in Europe instead of Asia. Because the gospel was planted in Europe it came to America on the Mayflower.

Because God directed Paul to Troas, hundreds of years later the United States of America was founded as a Christian nation and has been used of God to send missionaries all over the world. These few verses in Acts should cause tears of thankfulness and joy as we humbly realize, God in His sovereign grace sent Paul to Europe. What a challenge for Christians to take the gospel to those who have not received it!

Challenge for Today: When you are actively seeking the Lord’s will and He closes doors, watch for Him to open another door instead.

Quicklook: Acts 16:6–15

Devotional brought to you by God's Word For Today.
God's Word For Today is available from Gospel Publishing House.

 

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