Why You Don't Read Bithynians Chapter 1

You have heard it said that God answers our prayers in three different ways: yes, no, and wait. Yes answers are good. Wait answers are hard (but important). No answers can be a mixed bag.

We waste a lot of time on things we assume are yes answers. God called Paul to pass over a good opportunity for something better. This is why you will never read Paul's epistle to the Bithynians. Check out what happens in Acts 16.7-10:

When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

The Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to enter into Bithynia. Why not? Didn't they need to hear the Gospel? Had they already rejected Jesus or something? We don't know. It is safe to assume that the Bithynians had not yet heard the story of Jesus. However, the Holy Spirit had something else for Paul to do.

Just because something is good does not mean that it is right.

Think of all of the opportunities you have to do good. You could draw up an endless list! But how many of those things has God called you to do? Stop doing things simply because they are good because God has something better in mind.