‘JUST A MAN’
Did you ever wonder who the man in Acts 16:9 might have been? You know the vision that came to Paul in the middle of the night. The man that said, “Come over and help us.” Me too, but try as I might there is just not much written about him. He is a man in a vision, just a man, with no name.
As our God works out of His plan to reach the world with the gospel He uses men just like you and I. Knowing God could have used angels to get the job done but chose us the body of Christ, gives heart and delight to my mission call today.
To Paul it was not a problem believing the vision was from God, because God had used another man in his life years before. In Acts 9:10 we find God using Ananias, a man from Damascus, a disciple, who was little known in his day. Yet this man was chosen by God to inform the great missionary Paul in what he would suffer as he preached the gospel message. Why did God not just come right out and tell Paul these directions Himself?
Why, God uses His whole body, not just an eye, hand or foot when He moves out with the gospel. Who are you and I to think we must have some great vision from above before we can step out into the ministry we have been called too? God still ‘directs” today but He still uses just plain, simple men to help us with directions just as he did for the apostle Paul, the man that said, “follow me.”
I trust we always will be men and women that have ears to hear what is being spoken today by the Holy Spirit and the body of Christ. Let us be listening for words from faithful, humble disciples, men that are well known as well as just simple men serving God out of the spot light. We need both in our lives to help direct us as we walk with the Lord.
After 30 years walking with the Lord in mission work I must confess knowing the will of the Lord is still very hard at times. I owe much of my perseverance to men and women that have been willing to help direct me in the right direction. Remember God uses faithful men and he can use you to direct others as well. Jack Housley, just a man, PNG.