Staying
Text: 1 Corinthians 16:5-9
Theme: Paul didn’t just go; sometimes he stayed to make a bigger impact.
Key verses: “I am coming to visit you after I have been to Macedonia…Perhaps I will stay awhile with you, possibly all winter, and then you can send me on my way to my next destination. This time I don’t want to make just a short visit and then go right on. I want to come and stay awhile, if the Lord will let me. In the meantime, I will be staying here at Ephesus until the Festival of Pentecost. There is a wide-open door for a great work here, although many oppose me” (v. 5-9).
What God said to me: Good morning, my son. It is always good to meet with you in your morning hour. This is where you can draw encouragement and wisdom and direction. Always, always prioritize times with me in my written Word. I will always meet you here and speak to you through the Bible as you meditate on my Word and let it soak into your mind and soul. You are all about going. That makes sense, seeing you have been traveling from church to church for most of your life. However, there is an even more vital and impactful ministry I have called you to now. In addition to going, I have also called you to sometimes stay and also to return to some of the places I’ve opened for you. Paul stayed in Ephesus because of the wide-open door I had provided for gospel ministry. Notice it wasn’t an easy stay for him. He wasn’t bunked up at the local Hilton hotel, resting by the pool. Paul knew that staying somewhere for a period of time can lead to difficult days and hard circumstances. Still, he stayed. Paul stayed long enough to make a deep impact in the hearts and lives of those who followed me. Paul stayed long enough to build close and trusted relationships with people. He stayed to share the gospel with many in the synagogues and on the streets of cities. Sometimes he stayed until he was literally run off. At other times Paul only passed through a place, as he said he planned to do in this passage, by passing through Macedonia. Dwayne, I love that you are willing to sacrifice your comforts of home to get on planes and take long trips on bumpy roads. Keep going and going until you can’t go anymore. I will continue to give your health and strength and financial provisions to go. You are an evangelist and teacher. Those are your offices and gifting. However, beware of going so much that you fail to stay awhile at some of the places where I’ve led you. I haven’t called you to reach every country and help every church. I have a huge global body of believers. Many others are also going out to strengthen my Church. It’s not all up to you, so you shouldn’t feel the pressure to always go. Stay for awhile. Remember that staying to invest long-term in people can be much more powerful and effective than merely meeting and then leaving them.
What I said to God: Good morning, my Father! You are my Lord and Savior, and I love You with my whole heart and soul and mind and strength. Help me when I doubt Your provisions and interventions in my life. Please help me follow your still, small voice, and only go when and where You lead me. Help me not be so determined to go that I forget to stay. I commit our ministry to You. You know who we need and how much we need to expand and to also stay connected with our community around the globe. I praise You for letting me be a small part of such a growing and powerful ministry as NLW International. What a privilege!