In my community when we get a new assignment we are sent an “obedience letter” which reads: “It seems to be the will of God that you be sent to ….” As someone who signed many of those letters I can testify that getting to what seems like the will of God is a messy process. How much easier for Paul and Barnabas who got the word directly from the Holy Spirit. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul.” Yet as subsequent history shows, even with the direct word of the Holy Spirit some things don’t work out. We pray to the Holy Spirit, make the best decision, and leave the rest to God.
