Day 19 - Concord Student Journey

 

Read Acts 13:1-12

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.2 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.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

On Cyprus

4 The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.

6 They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus,7 who was an attendant of the proconsul,Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsulfrom the faith. 9 Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, 10 “You are a child of the deviland an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? 11 Now the hand of the Lord is against you.You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun.”

Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. ¹² When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.

In Acts Chapter 13:1-12, we see the Holy Spirit guiding the early church in Antioch as they set apart Barnabas and Saul for the work to which God had called them. As we delve into this passage, we see how God's plan was unfolding and how the Holy Spirit was working in the lives of His people.

One modern analogy we can draw from this passage is that of a coach who is selecting a team for a big game. The coach carefully chooses the players who will be best suited for the task at hand, taking into consideration their abilities and strengths. Similarly, God hand-picked Barnabas and Saul for the mission He had in store for them. The Holy Spirit guided the church in Antioch as they made this decision, and they were obedient to His leading.

Another modern analogy we can draw from this passage is that of a GPS. When we use a GPS to navigate, it tells us which direction to take, and we follow its instructions. In the same way, the Holy Spirit guides us as we journey through life. He shows us the way we should go, and we follow His leading. Barnabas and Saul were following the GPS of the Holy Spirit as they embarked on their mission, and they trusted in His guidance every step of the way.

Two reflection questions we can ask ourselves after reading this passage are:

1. How can I trust the Holy Spirit to guide me in my own life? Am I willing to follow His leading even if it takes me outside of my comfort zone?
2. Am I open to the possibility that God may be calling me to a specific task or mission? How can I discern His will for my life and be obedient to His leading?

May we be encouraged to trust in the Holy Spirit's guidance and to be obedient to His leading in our own lives. May we be willing to step out in faith, just as Barnabas and Saul did, and to follow God's plan for us.