2 The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him.
3 Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so hecircumcised him because of the Jews who lived in thatfor they all knew that his father was a Greek. - P152
5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith andgrew daily in numbers. - P152
Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by theHoly Spirit from preaching the word in the provinceof Asia.
When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried toenter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allowthem to. - P153
8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas,
9During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Mace-donia standing and begging him, "Come over to Mace-donia and help us.‘
- P153
10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at onceto leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had calledus to preach the gospel to them. - P153
Paul meets a believer named Timothy in Lystra and wants to take him alongon his journey. Timothy gets circumcised for the sake of the Jews that they aregoing to visit on their travels. - P153
The church is strengthened in faith and growsin numbers. One night, Paul sees a vision of a man asking him to come toMacedonia. Paul and his companions get ready to go at once. - P153
As a Christian from a Greek background, Timothy was well within hisrights to refuse circumcision. After all, the Jerusalem Council just ruledthat it was not necessary to be part of the church. - P154
Yet, in his wisdom,
Paul knew that it was better to not be a stumbling block to the Jewishhearers of their message, and Timothy agreed. - P154
As Christians, we arecalled to deny ourselves. - P154
Just because something is not strictly sinfuldoes not always mean it is wise to do it. - P154
There will be times when wewill have to say no to good things that may otherwise be in our right,
for the sake of Christ‘s service. - P154
May the advancement of the gospeland the growth of God‘s people be more valuable to us than our ownprivileges. - P154
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