March 11th, 2014
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Settlers or Pilgrims?

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Opening Prayer

Gracious God, I praise You for Your manifold gifts to me. I take nothing and no one for granted.

Read Acts 13:13-25

[13] From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem. [14] From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down. [15] After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.” [16] Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: “Fellow Israelites and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! [17] The God of the people of Israel chose our ancestors; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt; with mighty power he led them out of that country; [18] for about forty years he endured their conduct in the wilderness; [19] and he overthrew seven nations in Canaan, giving their land to his people as their inheritance. [20] All this took about 450 years. “After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. [21] Then the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. [22] After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’ [23] “From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised. [24] Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel. [25] As John was completing his work, he said: ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not the one you are looking for. But there is one coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright &copy 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.&reg Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Meditate

“You shouldn’t mind being a pilgrim and stranger in this world when you know your destination is heaven” (Warren Wiersbe). We journey with Christ through this world, keeping the world to come in view.

Think Further

The first missionary journey is getting under way. Traveling from Cyprus to Perga, from Barnabas’ country to Paul’s native land of Asia Minor, there is a sense of momentum as they move from place to place. From Abraham’s time, God’s people have been called to be on the move, to journey with him into an unknown future, to be pilgrims, not settlers. There is clear purpose in this particular journey, which we see as the account unfolds. They had a message rooted in God’s big story and their place in it. It was this sense of identity, and their calling to introduce Jesus to others, set in the context of the big story, that provided strong foundations for their journey.

But it appears that not everyone was totally caught up in the momentum and vision for what they were doing. Luke states in a matter of fact way that John Mark left them in Perga to return to Jerusalem. Later, we get a flavor of what Paul really thought of Mark’s decision (Acts 15:38). No reason is given, although there are various theories. Was he homesick, or perhaps unhappy that Paul was taking the lead and eclipsing his cousin? Maybe as a loyal member of Jerusalem’s conservative Jewish church he disagreed with Paul’s focus on the Gentiles. Whatever the reason, John Mark chose to drop out of that particular journey. Reading Acts, it’s easy to forget that it wasn’t all like an action movie! There was the everyday stuff, plus being far from home and its comforts. Like Mark, for us it can be tempting to settle, to step aside from the journey because traveling with God can be demanding. Isn’t it so much easier to opt for what we know and what we feel we can control?

Apply

Who do you know who’s flagging in their faith a bit? Prayerfully consider how you could best encourage them and do so soon. If it’s you, seek help!

Closing prayer

Lord, today I claim Your promise that those who call upon You will be re-energized. I need a fresh vision, renewed strength, and the hope of Your presence.

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