The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 16:9-10, 13-14, “And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a certain man of Macedonia was standing and
appealing to him, and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
10 And when he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had
called us to preach the gospel to them.”

13 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to a riverside, where we were supposing that there would
be a place of prayer; and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled.
14 And a certain woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God,
was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.”

There’s no known way to truly measure how many people have had dreams in the course of their lives. My guess, however, is that most of us have had dreams, many of which were puzzling to us as to what they meant.
Yet, when we’re in the LORD’s service and praying for His will to be made known, we dare not omit anything
that could be His directive. Previously, Paul and Silas had started to enter Bithynia, but “the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them” to enter that area (16:7). Surely, this dream was of the LORD.

On factor emphasized in the dream was a man from the City of Macedonia in Greece, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Now, Paul and Silas knew why they were not permitted to go into Bithynia, and they immediately set out to do as the LORD had directed them. The LORD is quite specific in His directions, if we obey them. We may not understand why He directs us as He does, but He is our LORD; we are His servants.

Have you ever gone some place only to wonder how things were going to develop? I sure have! Flying alone into India, landing in the early morning hours, not knowing who or whether anyone would meet me – I freely admit that it is a strange and worrying situation. At least Paul and Silas had each other. But, why were they there? Where was this strange man, who appeared in the dream?

It was the Sabbath, so Paul and Silas went to a place they believed likely to be a “place of prayer.” It was; however, only women, it seemed were gathered there. It was a man in the vision. Ignoring all of that, Paul shared the Gospel and “the LORD opened (the) heart” of a woman named Lydia; and she responded to the Gospel and trusted Jesus. It may seem to have been a small response, considering all the trouble Paul and Silas had encountered to get there, but Lydia was the first convert to Christ in the western world. Never underestimate the value of the smallest labor for the LORD. It always has its reward.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. My sincere apology for the missing Grands Letters of the past few days. When I learned that some were not being
were blocking it. As per this issue, the channel is open again.

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom