Same Down Thing
Text: Acts 14:1-7
Theme: Paul and Barnabas were tenacious and determined in their mission.
Key verses: “The same thing happened in Iconium. Paul and Barnabas went to the Jewish synagogue and preached with such power that a great number of both Jews and Gentiles became believers. Some of the Jews, however, spurned God’s message and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas. But the apostles stayed there a long time, preaching boldly about the grace of the Lord…But the people of the town were divided in their opinion about them…Then a mob of Gentiles and Jews, along with their leaders, decided to attack and stone them. When the apostle learned of it, they fled to the region of Lycaonia–And there they preached the Good News” (v. 1-7).
What God said to me: Tenacity and determination–those are the words you need to glean today from this passage, Dwayne. Those are the qualities you too must display to keep on going in your ministry. Granted, Paul & Barnabas endured dire circumstances and physical pain at a level you have never had to experience. The settings and target groups of their mission were quite different from yours. Thus, I’m not comparing your trials to theirs or your mission to theirs. Nonetheless, I am saying you must exhibit as much tenacity, as much dogged persistence, as is needed to finish your mission and accomplish what I have sent you to do. I give to each person the measure of faith and grace needed to fulfill my purpose in them. You may or may not be martyred for your faith sometime down the road. You may or may not encounter the beatings and devilish opposition that P&B did. But you are facing dire financial conditions. Your ministry could be bankrupt soon, and you could find yourself without an income from NLW. What will you do then? Will you quit on your mission? Will you quit on me? You must burn every bridge in your mind and heart, every back-up plan. You must put your hand to the plow and not look back. Look straight ahead, and determine to get that row hoed. Get that field planted, no matter the personal cost. Get your job done. I will never leave you or forsake you. I will walk with you through your darkest, most discouraging times. Beware of feeling sorry for yourself when things get tough or your friends seem to abandon you. You have me! Who else and what else do you really need?
What I said to God: Wow, I didn’t see all of that coming when I sat down to meditate on this passage today. Thank You, my Lord and God, my very best friend, for reminding me in no uncertain terms that You expect me to keep going, no matter what. Honestly, I kind of dread our board meeting tonight as we look at a somewhat depressing financial forecast for NLWI. But, regardless of the outcome, and regardless of whether our ministry remains solvent in the long run, You remain on the throne, and my life’s mission will remain intact. I know what You have called me to do–to make disciples, teaching them about true, whole-worship. That is my mission, and by Your grace and power, I will do it one way or the other until the day I die.