Reflecting the Image

Scripture:

Acts 14:21–28

21 After they had proclaimed the good news to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, then on to Iconium and Antioch. 22 There they strengthened the souls of the disciples and encouraged them to continue in the faith, saying, “It is through many persecutions that we must enter the kingdom of God.” 23 And after they had appointed elders for them in each church, with prayer and fasting they entrusted them to the Lord in whom they had come to believe.

24 Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. 25 When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26 From there they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work[g] that they had completed. 27 When they arrived, they called the church together and related all that God had done with them and how he had opened a door of faith for the gentiles. 28 And they stayed there with the disciples for some time.

Observation:

Paul and Barnabas are out on their missionary journey, and along the way we learn some of the practical aspects of their work. They face persecution and great opposition. In fact, opposition follows them from one city to another, creating repeated interruptions to their ministry. But they will not be deterred.

As they retrace their steps through the cities where they have ministered, they strengthen and encourage the new believers. They also begin to organize the work by appointing elders in every church. Paul and Barnabas know that they will not always be present, and these new communities of faith will need local leaders.

They practice prayer and fasting. This is a regular aspect of their life and ministry. Paul and Barnabas pray and fast as leaders are appointed in these new churches, and then they entrust them to the Lord. They are preparing to leave, and they will no longer be present to oversee the day-to-day work.

Moving on, Paul and Barnabas pass through more cities, and everywhere they go they proclaim the good news of Jesus.

Then comes the time to return home—to the church in Antioch that had sent them out—and report what happened on their journey.

This may very well have felt like one of the first missionary meetings!

One can imagine that the people of the church in Antioch were anxious to hear what had happened. Paul and Barnabas had traveled into new territory, telling people about Jesus who had never heard of Him before.

When they return, they call the church together and tell the stories. Interestingly, the focus isn’t on everything theyaccomplished, but on everything God had done with them. God had opened the door of faith to the gentiles.

And after bringing their report, they remain with the disciples for some time.

There would be future journeys. But for now, they were home with the community that had sent them.

Application:

We are compelled to go into all the world and share the good news about Jesus. Examining the ministry of Paul and Barnabas, we begin to see what it may take to be engaged in missionary work.

When my husband and I served as missionaries, we were told that our responsibility was to “work yourself out of a job.”

In other words, we were to train others to do what we were doing so that eventually we would no longer be needed.

Paul and Barnabas modeled this as they raised up elders in the churches. They were working themselves out of a job while mentoring and developing those who would continue the ministry after they were gone.

Missionary work includes raising up and empowering the next generation of leaders.

The empowering part of the equation is especially important. Handing over responsibility and control is not always easy. We like to make sure things are done our way.

But Paul and Barnabas did something remarkable. They appointed leaders, prayed and fasted with them, and then entrusted them to the Lord.

Ultimately, the work didn’t belong to Paul and Barnabas. It belonged to God.

Missionary work includes modeling a life of humility through prayer and fasting.

I’m not sure we talk about prayer and fasting enough these days. We find these practices throughout the Bible, and yet they are disciplines not practiced by every believer.

Paul and Barnabas modeled this way of life before the new leaders. Through prayer and fasting, they were teaching them to remain connected to the Source—the One who provides the power for ministry. Paul and Barnabas knew that this was absolutely necessary for the work ahead.

Missionary work includes sharing the stories of what God has done!

The testimony of God’s work on the mission field is still powerful today. One of the biggest mistakes a missionary can make while on home assignment is preaching a message without sharing stories from the mission field.

People want to hear about the ways God has been at work!

Those stories encourage the people who have prayed, given, and participated in sending missionaries into the world. Paul and Barnabas understood this. They gathered the church and told them “all that God had done with them.”

Missionary work includes time for refreshment and renewal.

I’ve been contemplating this idea of rest and renewal since beginning my sabbatical. For much of the year, I’m on the go, much as Paul and Barnabas were. There is a lot of travel, many sleepless nights, and a variety of ways in which the message you share is received. Some people love you. Some people—not so much!

Eventually, we need time to remain awhile.

Luke doesn’t tell us exactly what Paul and Barnabas did during this extended time in Antioch. But after all the travel, opposition, persecution, and demands of ministry, there is something beautiful about the simple statement that they “stayed there with the disciples for some time.”

They remained with their community.

There would be another journey.

But not yet.

Missionary work didn’t end in the first century. The first century church provides us with a pattern that continues to speak to us today: go where God sends, proclaim the good news, raise up leaders, pray and fast, entrust the work to God, tell the stories of what God has done—and sometimes, remain awhile.

Prayer:

Lord, in many ways, we are all called to be missionaries. Every day we are sent into the world around us. Help me not to forget what You have shown us through the lives of Paul and Barnabas. Teach me to go when You say go, to entrust the work to others, to remain dependent upon You, and also to recognize when it is time to remain awhile. Amen.