Daily Devotional

(Note: In our study tours of Greece, we usually trace the footsteps of the apostle Paul recorded in Acts, Chapters 16 through 18—“Paul’s Second Missionary Journey.” I invite you to join me in a series of devotionals related to that portion of Scripture, starting today with Acts 16.)

In Acts 16 we find the sovereign hand of God on every part of Paul’s missionary journey.

• It was God’s plan for Paul to go to deliver the good news of the gospel and strengthen the churches in Asia Minor (vv. 1–5).

• It was Paul’s plan to do the same thing in Asia but it was not the Holy Spirit’s plan (v. 6).

• It was God’s plan for Paul to go to Philippi in Macedonia (vv. 9–15)

• It was Satan’s plan to try to thwart God’s plan and have Paul thrown in jail (vv. 16–24).

• It was God’s plan to thwart Satan’s plan and the whole household of a Philippian jailer
gets saved (vv. 25–34).

• It was the local officials plan to punish Paul.

• It was Paul’s plan to confront the government and show who really is in control.

• It was the local officials plan for Paul to move on to the rest of his journey (vv. 35–40).

I once heard a speaker say, “The plans are man’s but the odds are God’s.” Acts 16 is certainly one of the proofs. Keeping in mind what happened to the apostle Paul in Acts 16, take some personal time to reflect on Proverbs 16:1–7, especially as it relates to you own life:

The plans of the heart belong to man,
But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight,
But the Lord weighs the motives.
Commit your works to the Lord
And your plans will be established.
The Lord has made everything for its own purpose,
Even the wicked for the day of evil.
Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
Assuredly, he will not be unpunished.
By lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for,
And by the fear of the Lord one keeps away from evil.
When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord,
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation