Saturday of the 5th Week of Easter
He came to Derbe and Lystra; and behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewess who believed, but his father was a Greek. The brothers who were at Lystra and Iconium gave a good testimony about him. Paul wanted to have him go out with him, and he took and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered the decrees to them to keep which had been ordained by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem. So the assemblies were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.
When they had gone through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. When they had come opposite Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit didn't allow them. Passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. A vision appeared to Paul in the night. There was a man of Macedonia standing, begging him and saying, "Come over into Macedonia and help us." When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go out to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the Good News to them.
Shout for joy to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness. Come before his presence with singing.
Know that the Lord, he is God. It is he who has made us, and we are his. We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
For the Lord is good. His loving kindness endures forever, His faithfulness to all generations.
If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, since I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his lord.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But they will do all these things to you for my name's sake, because they don't know him who sent me.
Paul's journey with Timothy reveals something profound about how God shapes us through community and calling. Notice how Timothy's mixed heritage—Jewish mother, Greek father—becomes not a liability but an asset for mission. Paul circumcises him not to conform to legalism, but to remove barriers that might prevent the Gospel from being heard. Sometimes wisdom means adapting our approach so the message can break through.
The tension here is fascinating: while Paul makes this practical accommodation with Timothy, he and his companions find themselves repeatedly redirected by the Holy Spirit. They plan to go to Asia—blocked. They try Bithynia—the Spirit says no. Finally, a vision calls them to Macedonia. What emerges is a beautiful dance between human planning and divine guidance, between our efforts and God's sovereignty.
This passage invites us to consider how we hold our own plans. That job application we're waiting to hear about, the relationship we're hoping will develop, the move we're considering—all of these matter, but they're held within something larger. The Spirit who redirected Paul's steps is the same Spirit moving in our ordinary Tuesday meetings and weekend decisions.
Jesus' words about the world's hatred provide crucial context. The Christian life isn't about finding the path of least resistance. When we align ourselves with Christ's values—mercy over judgment, service over power, truth over comfort—we shouldn't be surprised when the world pushes back. This isn't persecution complex; it's realistic expectation.
The psalm's call to "shout for joy" and "serve with gladness" isn't naive optimism. It's defiant hope in the face of opposition, grounded in the knowledge that we belong to God.
How might the Spirit be redirecting your current plans? What would it look like to serve with gladness even when facing resistance?