God’s Word for You
Acts 15:40-41 Choices
by Pastor Timothy Smith on Thursday, September 17, 2020
40 But Paul chose Silas and departed, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Paul’s choice of Silas as a new traveling companion made good sense. Like Paul, Silas was a Roman citizen (Acts 16:38), and since Silas represented the Jerusalem congregation, between them they were good representatives of the two larger Christian churches at this time: Jerusalem and Antioch. Besides these points, the two men had worked together when they were sent to Antioch to deliver the letter from the council. They trusted each other.
The route they chose was to walk overland from the northwest corner of Palestine through the Taurus mountains and into Asia Minor. There was a good road through a mountain pass known as the Cilician Gates (today, the Gulek Pass). The road was never meant to service wagons, carts, or other wheeled vehicles, but men on foot or caravans of mules or camels. It takes five days on foot to travel the route from the Cilician plains to the Anatolian plateau, and there were many hazards. Paul said, “I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits” (2 Corinthians 11:26), referring to this journey and perhaps others. Whatever difficulties or personal dangers Paul and Silas faced, they did these things in order to carry out the work of strengthening the churches.
As Chapter 15 now draws to a close, it would be good to go back and say something more about the disagreement that happened between Paul and Barnabas. It’s as important in this case to notice what was not said as what was said. Both men had a course of action in mind, but neither man insisted that he was right, or that only he was doing God’s will. Therefore, the actions of neither man can be called a sin. They were free to decide what they would do. This helps us to understand something very important about history, both the history of the Bible and the history of our own lives. We need to be able to see: Was something that happened necessary? Or was it contingent? (Contingent means that something is subject to chance, or to circumstances).
What is the connection between God’s omniscience or foreknowledge, his divine will, and man’s freedom and free will? A Christian has free will in matters that are subject to his own judgment and reason. In some cases, the Bible teaches us that God both knew certain things and that he brought about history so that those things would take place. For example, it was entirely God’s will that Jesus would suffer and die for our sins, and rise on the third day (Luke 9:22). But, “to say that God knows all that will happen is not the same thing as saying that he wills all that happens and that everything that happens, therefore, must have happened exactly as it did” (Deutschlander, Grace Abounds, p. 141). God provides each of us with many, many choices. Which choice we decide upon is left to our Christian judgment, and God will bless the choices we make.
We might decide that the church needs a new roof, or that we should build a new playground for our children. These are not necessary according to God’s will, but only contingent on our circumstances. A girl might find herself with three young suitors, each a fine choice as a husband. Which one will she choose? It is not the unbreakable will of God that she chooses a particular man, either Teddy, George, or Gus. But God will bless her choice, whatever her reasons (Ruth 3:10), and we can say that God brought them together. But he would have blessed another choice that she made.
Therefore, Paul and Barnabas made choices according to their Christian judgment, and God blessed what they did. When God gives you choices, pray about them (assuming that none of them is actually sinful). Imagine your life along the lines of each possibility, how you might serve God, how you might personally be happy, or useful, or fulfilled. Ask for advice if you need it. But once you have made up your mind, be confident that God will bless you as you live to give him glory.
Oh, that the Lord would guide my ways
To keep his statues still!
Oh, that my God would grant me grace
To know and do his will!Order my footsteps by your word
And make my heart sincere.
Let sin have no dominion, Lord,
But keep my conscience clear.Assist my soul, too apt to stray
A stricter watch to keep
And should I e’er forget your way,
Restore your wand’ring sheep.Make me to walk in your commands—
’Tis a delightful road—
Nor let my head or heart or hands
Offend against my God. (Christian Worship 462:1-4)Bless every choice that you provide
When I know not your will;
Live in my heart as I decide
How best to serve you still.
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy Smith
Pastor Smith serves St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in New Ulm, Minnesota. To receive God’s Word for You via e-mail, please visit the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church website.