Vision casting – Finding Macedonia

Acts 16 talks about how Paul – a well known Christian evangelist in the New Testament – is on his way to Asia, to preach the gospel, when he is stopped by the Holy Spirit. In fact the Bible even goes so far as to say that he was forbidden by the Spirit to go and preach in Asia. Why? It doesn’t seem to make sense that the Holy Spirit would stop Paul and his team from preaching God’s word to people who desperately need to hear it. It’s not even like Paul had “hidden motives” – like the reason he was really trying to get to Asia was because there was this pot of gold that he wanted to get his hands on. As far as we know, he genuinely wanted to preach God’s word; to open people’s eyes to Jesus Christ the Son of God. A noble quest...surely?

Acts 16:9-10....(Timothy writes): “During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’ After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.”

Paul’s plans for Asia were not ungodly – what Paul wanted to do in Asia was exactly what Christ had commissioned His early disciples to do (“go out and make disciples of all nations”). But God didn’t want Paul in Asia. He wanted him in Macedonia.

Most SCA committees have a vision for their SCA. A vision for the year, and how SCA will be run, and what will be taught, and how it will be taught. And most of these visions are godly visions – we pray about them, ask for God’s leading, and ask for God to be a part of our vision for SCA. But what if it isn’t so much about God being a part of our vision for our SCA’s in our schools, as it is about us being a part of God’s vision for His SCA’s in His schools.

Because God does have a vision. And He does have a plan. And He’s longing to show it to us – but if we’re insisting on going to Asia, how can God lead us – and our SCA’s - to Macedonia?

So maybe this means that as a committee, it’s time to sit down and reassess how much of your vision is God’s and how much is yours. Or maybe you truly believe that you are following God’s vision, and you simply need to spend time, as a committee, getting back to that vision. Maybe you need to sit down and actually ask God for a vision – because so far you don’t really have one. Whatever the case, take time as a committee to seek God, to ask His guidance. And spend time waiting on Him – waiting for Him to show you your own Macedonia.

Because God is just waiting to show you what He has planned for His SCA’s. And I promise it’ll be better than what we can imagine ourselves. You thought Asia was cool? Wait till you see Macedonia...

Amy

SUIS Trendsetter (St Anne's SCA Committee 2010)