In Acts 16, Paul visited a few of the new churches again, encouraging them in their faith and "instructing them to follow the decisions made by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem"(v.4). They had planned to travel next to Asia and Bithynia , but the Holy Spirit did not permit them. Instead, Paul was directed through a vision to leave at once for Macedonia, and concluded that "God was calling them to preach the Good News there"(v.9). Paul and Silas met with a group of people on the riverbank outside the city, where they regularly gathered for prayer. The Lord opened the hearts of some of those listening. There was a fortune-telling demon-possessed slave girl who shouted to the people, "these men are servants of the Most High God and they have come to tell you how to be saved". The shouting of this slave went on for days, until Paul commanded the demon to come out in the name of Jesus and it left her. The slave's masters had hoped to become wealthy from her fortune-telling, so they became very angry and convinced the city officials to beat Paul and Silas and put them in prison for "teaching illegal customs". That night , while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God in the prison, there was an earthquake and their chains fell off and the prison doors opened wide. The guard became afraid that the prisoners had escaped, but Paul said "we're all here!". The guard was very relieved and asked them, "sirs, what must I do to be saved?" Paul explained, "believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved". Paul and Silas shared the word of the Lord with him and his household and they believed and were baptized. The guard brought them into his own house and prepared for them a meal and they all rejoiced together in God. The next morning, the city officials told the guard to set them free.

Is there a "Macedonia" that God is leading you toward in your neighborhood, at work, or even in your family. God enables us to witness profoundly to not-yet-believers simply by praising Him, despite our circumstances. Wouldn't it be incredible if a co-worker or neighbor came to you and asked, "what must I do to be saved?"