2 Corinthians 2:12-13 KJV
Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,
I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.
Here is a very interesting piece of Scripture that shows both the humanity of the Apostle and teaches a principle concerning the work of the Lord.
Paul expressed that a door was opened to preach in Troas and goes so far to say that this door was opened unto him "of the Lord." Yet Paul did not stay to work the opportunity. His burden was to see Titus (and presumably to hear his report of how things were in Corinth). This burden was intense enough that, though the Lord had made another opportunity available, Paul could not step through it, but had to leave to find Titus.
In just the previous chapter Paul said that in making moves he did not use lightness nor did he make them through the purpose of the flesh. I do not believe we are wresting the Scriptures to claim neither did he use lightness or the purpose of the flesh in this decision. An open door, even of the Lord, does not necessarily mean that it is the Lord's will that we step through it.
No soul will go to hell because we wait on Christ. Recognizing the difference between laziness and waiting on the Lord of course, no soul will be lost because we depend upon the Lord's timing rather than rushing into everything we see as an open door of the Lord.
The key of Christian submission is simply to follow the Lord and not to allow outside pressures cause us to stray away from following Him.
Barnes
"It shows that there may be cases where it is proper for ministers to leave a field of great and inviting usefulness, to go to another field and to engage in another part of the great vineyard."
Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,
I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.
Here is a very interesting piece of Scripture that shows both the humanity of the Apostle and teaches a principle concerning the work of the Lord.
Paul expressed that a door was opened to preach in Troas and goes so far to say that this door was opened unto him "of the Lord." Yet Paul did not stay to work the opportunity. His burden was to see Titus (and presumably to hear his report of how things were in Corinth). This burden was intense enough that, though the Lord had made another opportunity available, Paul could not step through it, but had to leave to find Titus.
In just the previous chapter Paul said that in making moves he did not use lightness nor did he make them through the purpose of the flesh. I do not believe we are wresting the Scriptures to claim neither did he use lightness or the purpose of the flesh in this decision. An open door, even of the Lord, does not necessarily mean that it is the Lord's will that we step through it.
No soul will go to hell because we wait on Christ. Recognizing the difference between laziness and waiting on the Lord of course, no soul will be lost because we depend upon the Lord's timing rather than rushing into everything we see as an open door of the Lord.
The key of Christian submission is simply to follow the Lord and not to allow outside pressures cause us to stray away from following Him.
Barnes
"It shows that there may be cases where it is proper for ministers to leave a field of great and inviting usefulness, to go to another field and to engage in another part of the great vineyard."
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