Central Truth

When God sets our feet in a particular place, we can rest assured he will put people in our path and will give us everything we need to succeed.

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Reflections

Today’s journey starts out as Paul’s feet hit the busy streets of Corinth. At this time, Corinth was the largest city in Greece. The population was over 200,000, and the city buzzed with commercial activity. Corinth was also well known for its immorality. 

Paul began his quest by searching out people who shared similarities with him. Aquila and Priscilla were Jews who worked as tentmakers. Paul stayed with and worked beside this couple while preaching.  

We find many more examples of people God sent Paul’s way to help him on this mission. Paul found great opposition from the Jews and began directing his message to the Gentiles. Opposition often brings feelings of discouragement and doubt. The vision God gave Paul reassured him to continue, for there were many people in the city who were followers of God.

Today’s message stresses the importance of being where God places us and embracing the people God brings into our lives. Paul’s friends must have provided encouragement to keep Paul walking the difficult path God placed before him. 

After the death of my son, I withdrew from family and friends. During this time, I had a dream that changed my course. In my dream, my Grandfather gave me some advice. He told me I had to be anchored in two places. He said it was like a button. The thread holds the button to the garment which symbolizes our relationship to God. The buttonhole serves as a covering for the button, securely connecting it to the garment. The buttonhole symbolizes trusted friends in our lives. I realized my relationship with God is what would hold me in place. I also realized I needed the friendship of Christians to encourage me on my path and needed to get back in line with God’s will for my life.

We need to understand that even when we are in uncomfortable circumstances, God is very watchful over us. If we choose to trust Him and seek His will for our life, He will provide everything needed to work things out according to His plan.

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Discussion Questions

1. How can you develop friendships with people you respect and trust? Do you already have such friendships?  Will you friends be there to laugh with you when you laugh and cry when you cry?
2. Do you have strategies in place to keep your focus on God when times of discouragement occur?
3. When God moves you to a new chapter in your life, do you resist?
4. Do you fully trust that God is directing your path?

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