Devotional Thoughts for the Week of May 12, 2019 - Living in Antioch
The book of Acts describes the work of the Holy Spirit in and through the lives of believers in the first century A.D. After Jesus had ascended, His followers continued to share the good news of salvation despite opposition in Jerusalem. Stephen became the first Christian martyr, after which severe persecution broke out. Many believers moved away from Jerusalem to escape the persecution, sharing their faith wherever they went. New congregations formed in Cyprus, Cyrene, and Antioch. Disciples in Jerusalem sent Barnabas to Antioch, and he asked Paul to join him there. They spent the following year teaching great numbers of people. It was in Antioch that believers were first called Christians (11:26). “Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off” (Acts 13:1-3).
Reading this account feels similar to what is happening at our church. Pastor Jim and Ruby were ministering in East Jordan, pouring their lives into people in the place where God had called them. They, together with many others have been praying and seeking the Lord. A few months ago, the Holy Spirit called Jim to leave East Jordan and serve in another capacity. Like believers in that first century church, we have fasted and prayed, committing to obey the Lord. Last Sunday we laid hands on them and prayed over them, and then sent them off to do His will. I wonder if it was as hard for the church in Antioch as it was for us. God richly blessed the ministry of Paul and Barnabas as they preached the gospel and established churches in many places. God blessed those who obeyed His call, but He also blessed those whom He had not sent forth. Believers in Antioch continued to grow and seek God, despite persecution. We who remain in East Jordan are to do as the Christians in Antioch did, continue to seek and serve the Lord in the place where He has us today.
This past week the teens and a few others spent time working to re-establish the prayer trail through the woods around the church. Even though I was the one who went through and marked trees, I cannot draw a mental picture of the trail as it would look from an aerial view. What I can do is find a starting point - a tree marked with orange paint. From there I can see the next marked tree so I know which direction to start moving. If I keep following those markers I will stay on the trail and reach the end. Discovering God’s plan for our lives works in much the same way. Much of the time God chooses not to reveal the big picture, the whole plan. He just reveals the next step. As we seek to be filled with His Spirit, we learn to walk in step with the Spirit (Gal. 5:25). If every baby step we take is in step with the Spirit, we will go where God wants us to go - even if we do not know beforehand where that is. Jesus said, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with very much” (Luke 10:16). If we are trustworthy to obey Him in small, daily steps, He can lead us into more major steps.
One thing we know for certain He wants us to be doing is to love God with everything we are, and to love those around us with His love. That is a good place to start. The day may come when He calls others from our number to go forth and serve in specific ways of His choosing. For now, however, we give Him our loving obedience here, sharing the good news with those lost in darkness. Praise be to our omnipresent God who is continually with us in this community even as He is continually with Pastor Jim and Ruby and with all His beloved children. What a great God we serve!
Lynn
The book of Acts describes the work of the Holy Spirit in and through the lives of believers in the first century A.D. After Jesus had ascended, His followers continued to share the good news of salvation despite opposition in Jerusalem. Stephen became the first Christian martyr, after which severe persecution broke out. Many believers moved away from Jerusalem to escape the persecution, sharing their faith wherever they went. New congregations formed in Cyprus, Cyrene, and Antioch. Disciples in Jerusalem sent Barnabas to Antioch, and he asked Paul to join him there. They spent the following year teaching great numbers of people. It was in Antioch that believers were first called Christians (11:26). “Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off” (Acts 13:1-3).
Reading this account feels similar to what is happening at our church. Pastor Jim and Ruby were ministering in East Jordan, pouring their lives into people in the place where God had called them. They, together with many others have been praying and seeking the Lord. A few months ago, the Holy Spirit called Jim to leave East Jordan and serve in another capacity. Like believers in that first century church, we have fasted and prayed, committing to obey the Lord. Last Sunday we laid hands on them and prayed over them, and then sent them off to do His will. I wonder if it was as hard for the church in Antioch as it was for us. God richly blessed the ministry of Paul and Barnabas as they preached the gospel and established churches in many places. God blessed those who obeyed His call, but He also blessed those whom He had not sent forth. Believers in Antioch continued to grow and seek God, despite persecution. We who remain in East Jordan are to do as the Christians in Antioch did, continue to seek and serve the Lord in the place where He has us today.
This past week the teens and a few others spent time working to re-establish the prayer trail through the woods around the church. Even though I was the one who went through and marked trees, I cannot draw a mental picture of the trail as it would look from an aerial view. What I can do is find a starting point - a tree marked with orange paint. From there I can see the next marked tree so I know which direction to start moving. If I keep following those markers I will stay on the trail and reach the end. Discovering God’s plan for our lives works in much the same way. Much of the time God chooses not to reveal the big picture, the whole plan. He just reveals the next step. As we seek to be filled with His Spirit, we learn to walk in step with the Spirit (Gal. 5:25). If every baby step we take is in step with the Spirit, we will go where God wants us to go - even if we do not know beforehand where that is. Jesus said, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with very much” (Luke 10:16). If we are trustworthy to obey Him in small, daily steps, He can lead us into more major steps.
One thing we know for certain He wants us to be doing is to love God with everything we are, and to love those around us with His love. That is a good place to start. The day may come when He calls others from our number to go forth and serve in specific ways of His choosing. For now, however, we give Him our loving obedience here, sharing the good news with those lost in darkness. Praise be to our omnipresent God who is continually with us in this community even as He is continually with Pastor Jim and Ruby and with all His beloved children. What a great God we serve!
Lynn