And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Acts 16:9 (ESV)
Look back at the picture again. If you saw this person sitting on the sidewalk, what would you do? Would you pass by? What if they spoke to you? How would you answer?
Satan has us afraid on so many levels. We're afraid of being attacked. I can remember when my dad stopped picking up hitchhikers because he became afraid for his family and rightfully so. We do live in a day of caution. I saw a news report where a lady saw a family slumped over in a car unconscious. She opened the door and took out a toddler, rubbing his chest and talking to him to wake up. Others had ignored the car for quite a while. She had to take the chance because she saw a child. She also had been in the same situation years ago. But what about other ways we are unadmittedly afraid.
Are we afraid we don't know what to say? Afraid we will say the wrong thing? Afraid someone won't like us? It's often not just the person sitting on the sidewalk that we fear. It's often our neighbor, our family, our friends and strangers. People in every walk of our life are living in fear, fear for their souls as well as their lives.
The man of Macedonia called out to Paul in a vision. Scripture says where there is no vision the people persish. (Proverbs 29:18). People all around us are perishing. We don't know when the next person will perish from Covid or a car wreck or some random act of violence. Paul went to Macedonia. He was beaten and imprisoned but he helped the people of Macedonia. People were saved and encouraged.
What's holding us back from answering the cries of those who are calling out for help? What vision has God given you?
Trying to see with God's eyes,
Gail
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