This article is part of our weekly series, “The Book of Acts and the Church Today.” You can see all articles in the series here.
How do we follow God in a fallen world? That’s an important question because there’s no other way. Following God is never as easy as we would like. Our sins beset us. Our calling scares us. We lack direction.
This was Paul’s experience at the beginning of his second missionary journey (see Acts 15:36–16:10). He faced interpersonal conflict, opposition from enemies, and numerous closed doors. Paul’s faithful and fruitful pursuit of God can help us also follow God in a fallen world in which we face disagreement, frustration, and the need to make sacrifices.
Follow God through Disagreement
Paul and Barnabas planned to retrace their first journey, encouraging the believers to enter the kingdom through many tribulations (Acts 14:22). Faithful church leaders are truly concerned for the congregations they shepherd.
Sadly, Paul and Barnabas disagreed about whether to include young John Mark, who had quit the previous mission (Acts 13:13). Barnabas thought they should try him again. Paul disagreed. Scripture doesn’t say who was right. But it does hint at a proper way to part paths.
Reluctantly
The very fact that the brothers disagreed sharply indicates their unwillingness to part over trifles and in haste. If we are long-suffering, we will be reluctant to break up a partnership.
Respectfully
Despite the “sharp disagreement,” the contending parties respected each other. Paul’s subsequent praise of Barnabas and Mark exemplifies the imitable trait of respect and an eagerness to reconcile (see 1 Cor. 9:6; Col. 4:10; Philem. 1:24; 2 Tim. 4:11).
Submissively
The church blessed Paul’s choice to set out with Silas (Acts 15:40; and perhaps Barnabas’s decision too). Wisdom and piety demand that we at least consult church leaders before dissolving unions like marriages and ministry or business partnerships.
Realistically
These church leaders realized that, in a fallen world, divisions happen. Sometimes it’s best to say, “God bless you as you go your way and I go mine” (see Gen. 13). So Paul and Silas struck out to strengthen the churches with the message of God’s free grace (Acts 16:4–5). Barnabas fades from the book of Acts.
Follow God through Sacrifice
At his first stop, Paul made a dear friend and important co-worker. Paul called Timothy his “child in the faith (1 Tim. 1:2). But God had long been preparing Timothy to embrace Christ through the biblical nurture of his godly matriarchs (2 Tim. 1:5, 3:15). He had since grown in Christian maturity so that he “was well spoken of by the brothers” (Acts 16:2).
But there was one problem. Timothy was uncircumcised. Part of Paul’s mission was to deliver the Jerusalem council’s decision that circumcision was not required for salvation (Acts 16:4). Jesus has done it all! Still, being part Jewish but uncircumcised, Timothy would have had no credibility with a Jewish audience. Prudence, not peer pressure guided Paul’s decision to have Timothy circumcised (cf. Gal. 2:3–5).
Like Timothy, believers follow God in a fallen world by willingly sacrificing their rights for the sake of the gospel. Timothy expected difficulty in the Christian life. He knew—perhaps as an eyewitness—of Paul’s “persecutions and afflictions” that happened to him at Lystra (2 Tim. 3:10–11). So Timothy ceded his rights and joined Paul in declaring that believers are saved through the grace of Jesus (Acts 15:11).
“So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily” (Acts 16:5). But the missionaries continued to face obstacles.
Follow God despite Frustration
“The Spirit of Jesus did not allow them” to speak where they intended (Acts 16:6–7). But in his kindness, God sent Paul a vision. Paul saw a Macedonian man urging him to “come over … and help” (Acts 16:9). Before we react jealously to this gift of a vision, remember that the missionaries still had to weigh the evidence and make a decision; they only “conclude[ed]” that they should go into Macedonia (Acts 16:10). Their experience can help us make important decisions as we follow God.
Consider Providence
It would have been unwise for Paul to ignore this vision. The vision was worth considering. What if the Lord lays on your heart a sense that you should financially assist a certain needy person? What if you have an unexplainable intuition to ask a friend about their spiritual wellness? What if life circumstances seem to be steering you toward an intimidating career change? Consider these things.
Consult Scripture
We should always evaluate God’s providential leading, trusting that providence never leads us to disobey Scripture. This particular providence fit with Paul’s mission and was consistent with godliness on a question that Scripture didn’t specifically answer. Today, we have even greater reason to compare providence to Scripture in our decision-making, and less reason to rely on visions or other peculiar providences. This group didn’t have God’s complete written revelation. We do.
Like Paul’s, our challenges in this fallen world are orchestrated by a good and loving God. In every single situation, we can glorify him by our faithful—and sometimes costly—response to trials. And we will know how to respond by using Scripture to enlighten our minds and guide us in every decision. We can follow God in a fallen world because Jesus has walked our path first with perfect success; that is the gospel. Jesus followed God for us. He’s now praying for us. And he will lead us to him.