A common saying goes like this: When one door closes another opens but in the meantime we just stand, wonder and ask what are you doing here God? At those times wonder no more but step out in faith knowing that God has a plan and all He asks is that we trust Him. Acts 16 is an example of a door slammed shut by the Holy Spirit. Dr. Luke does not tell us how or why, which is fitting since we too sometimes cannot explain the reasons behind God’s actions. But, this one thing we do know, God had a plan for Philippi and it entailed both a woman named Lydia and a Philippian jailer who needed to hear the words of the gospel message.

Both of these precious soon to be saints provide us with how the Spirit works in the hearts of men: “The Lord opened her heart to respond.” Both Lydia and the jailer’s hearts were pricked and they responded to the offer of salvation. But, it does not stop there. Lydia invited the missionaries: “If you consider me to be a believer in the Lord, come and stay in my house.”  The rejoicing jailer took Paul and Silas, washed their wounds and fed them. In both cases we see the words of James: “faith was perfected by works.” Thus a principle: once saved we are to prove that faith in our works.

Beloved, open your eyes to see the doors God has opened and then walk through trusting Him.