1/5/20 Mark (See conversation video HERE)
Are you following a “Macedonian Call”?
This is a reference to a vision the Apostle Paul received
during his second missionary journey. In
Acts 16:9 we read “And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of
Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia
and help us.”
Paul had been preaching in Asia Minor, still geographically
and culturally part of the Middle East.
Macedonia, however, was considered to be the gateway to Europe, and by
following this lead of the Holy Spirit Paul was now bringing the Gospel where
it had not been before and would have a profound effect on the entire Western
world.
Some 2000 years later, Macedonia remains impacted by the
Judeo-Christian heritage Paul brought there, but just like every new
generation, it is still in need of the Gospel.
I spoke with an interesting man from Macadonia, Mark, 35,
who would be one of those people. Mark
had grown up within the Orthodox Church there and told me that due to his job
as a casket distributor and his mother’s passing a year ago, he is very
familiar with the reality of death. He
believes in and loves God, praying several times a day, but is unclear of how a
person might be assured of eternal life or of what Jesus has to do with it.
Part of the difficulty, I think, for people like Mark is he
doesn’t come from a church tradition that emphasizes reading the Bible for
ourselves. Mark seemed to think he was
unusual in his culture for relating to God very personally, but without much
knowledge of God’s word he is unaware of his sin and his need for forgiveness
and the right relationship with God that can be found in Christ. I think he appreciated our conversation and I
hope and pray it will help motivate him to read the Bible for himself and to pursue
a deeper understanding of the Gospel.
The Gospel’s influence in Macedonia, beginning with Paul’s obedience
to his “Macedonian Call”, has done much to give a whole region a head-start
toward the Gospel. But it must be
preached anew in every culture and in every generation. Are you willing to heed your Macedonian Call?
Thanks, Mark, for allowing me to record our
conversation! It can be seen at https://youtu.be/4C8B-hqelHI
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