Getting the job done – God’s way
Acts 14:21-28
21 After preaching the Good News in Derbe and making many disciples, Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia, 22 where they strengthened the believers. They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God. 23 Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders in every church. With prayer and fasting, they turned the elders over to the care of the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. 24 Then they traveled back through Pisidia to Pamphylia. 25 They preached the word in Perga, then went down to Attalia.
26 Finally, they returned by ship to Antioch of Syria, where their journey had begun. The believers there had entrusted them to the grace of God to do the work they had now completed. 27 Upon arriving in Antioch, they called the church together and reported everything God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles, too. 28 And they stayed there with the believers for a long time.
In this passage Paul and Barnabas travel throughout the new gentile churches, strengthening and encouraging, and appointing leaders. They commit the leaders to God with prayer and fasting. They then return to the church that had first committed THEM to God. All of these leaders were committed to the grace of God to complete the specific work given to them. And once complete Paul and Barnabas rested, staying with the disciples a long time.
What specific work has God given you? Have you sought out prayer for this? Have you been committed by fellow believers to the grace of God to complete this work? And what about our leaders in the church? Are we praying for them? Is there anyone embarking on leading a new thing who needs your committing prayer today?
Dear Lord, thank you that when you ask us to do something, you give us your power and grace to do it. We commit our leaders in the church to you today. Thank you that as a body of Christ we can partner with them in prayer, asking for your power and grace to see things through to completion, and afterwards to rest.
Written by Rhiannon Mellor