Daily Devotional for Thursday, December 5

Paul's Travels from Arabia

"Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus;' Galatians 1:17.

Galatians 1:1 reminds us that the apostle Paul was confronted with various accusations about his apostolic qualifications. In defending his apostleship, he informed the churches of Galatia that he was not made an apostle by the apostles in Jerusalem. Jesus Christ and God the Father recognized Paul's apostolic authority.

He further substantiated this defense in verse 17. If he did not even go to Jerusalem where the other apostles were, how could those apostles possibly have influenced his call? This was a sound argument. Instead of going to Jerusalem, he went to Arabia. Later, he returned to Damascus.

As a willing servant of the Lord, Paul went where the Lord wanted him to go. In Acts 16:7 Luke wrote, ''After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not." This is an example recorded in the Scriptures in which Paul followed the leadership of the Holy Spirit even if he desired to go somewhere else.

Imagine if Paul had gone directly to Jerusalem. How much more difficult would it have been to defend his apostleship? Besides, God called him to preach primarily to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15). There is no doubt God called Paul to go to Arabia. By listening to God's call and responding to the leadership of the Holy Spirit, Paul saved himself heartache, and ultimately, furthered the Lord's kingdom work. There may be a time in your life that God leads you somewhere you would rather not go or calls you to do something you would rather not do. Remember God's plan is always best.

CHALLENGE
Go where God wants you to go,and do what God wants you to do.

Chris Floyd