Tag: Paul and Barnabas

• Acts 13:44-52: Wild with Jealousy

  
  

  Acts 13:44-52: Wild with Jealousy

  Wednesday, May 22, 2024

  

  We have visited this reading before and we do well to visit it again. The themes are vitally important to us.

  Some of the Jews, seeing the crowds, went wild with jealousy and tore into Paul, contradicting everything he was saying, making an ugly scene.

  Whether we are the Jews, the Christians or the Gentiles, we must guard against jealousy and the ugly scenes this negative emotion brings.

  But Paul and Barnabas didn’t back down. Standing their ground they spoke.

  Like Paul and Barnabas, we must remain in Christ, trust God, and live in the Spirit so that we might share the healing message of the Good News.

  All who were marked out for real life put their trust in God—they honored God’s Word by receiving that life. 

  Like those who heard the good news of salvation, we must open our hearts and minds to God’s movement in our lives.

  Some of the Jews convinced the most respected women and leading men of the town that their precious way of life was about to be destroyed. Alarmed, they turned on Paul and Barnabas and forced them to leave.

  Like the most respected women and leading men in our town, we must remain in Christ and the surety of Christ’s promise.

  Paul and Barnabas shrugged their shoulders and went on to the next town, Iconium, brimming with joy and the Holy Spirit, two happy disciples.

  Like Paul and Barnabas, we must shrug our shoulders, move on to the next town, allowing the joy of the Spirit to overflow our hearts.

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  For other reflections on Paul and Barnabas, enter the apostles’ names in the blog search bar and explore.

  For more on Iconium, visit: http://bibleatlas.org/iconium.htm

  Image from: https://scpeanutgallery.com/2016/07/12/daily-reading-12-july-the-travels-of-paul-the-first-missionary-journey-acts-131-1428/

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  May 22, 2024

  Christ’s promises, Iconium, joy in the Spirit, Paul and Barnabas, trust God

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• Acts 14:21-27: Muscle and Sinew

  
  

  Acts 14:21-27: Muscle and Sinew

  Tuesday, May 9, 2023

  

  What is our vision of heaven and eternal happiness? How do we imagine the work of the kingdom? Paul and Barnabas today show us that discipleship calls for muscle and sinew just as much as it calls for faith, hope and love. We might learn something from this reading today. These two ardent followers of Christ show us just what kingdom work looks like.

  Proclaim the good news – We always have the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection before us.

  Strengthen the spirits of the disciples – We always have the Spirit of God to guide us.

  Exhort the disciples to persevere in faith – We always have the energy of Christ within us.

  Appoint elders – We always have the power and wisdom of God moving us.

  Commend the faithful to the LORD with prayer and fasting – We always have the grace of the Spirit to console us.

  Call the faithful together to report your progress – We always have the voice of Jesus to call us.

  When we join in the work of building the kingdom, we will always have the muscle and sinew for the task before us.

  They went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs. (Mark 16:20)

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  To learn more about Paul and Barnabas in Lystra, read Acts 14:8-28.

  Image rom: https://www.wikiart.org/en/jacob-jordaens/the-apostles-st-paul-and-st-barnabas-at-lystra-1616

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  May 9, 2023

  Acts 14:8-28, happiness, heaven, kingdom-building, Lystra, Mark 16:20, Paul and Barnabas

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• Philippians 2:1-11: Unity and Humility

  
  

  Philippians 2:1-11: Unity and Humility

  Friday, December 13, 2019

  Complete my joy by being of the same mind . . .

  If Christ – who is God – can humble himself in order to bring about good, cannot we humble ourselves, and can we not obey God’s call to us?  And what miracles might we experience once we do?

  In Chapter 14 of Acts we read an account of how Paul and Barnabas are mistaken for pagan gods when they are able to cure a crippled man.  When this gift of healing which God gives them is made known, “some Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrived and won over the crowds.  They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.  But when the disciples gathered round him, he got up and entered the city”.  Even a stoning and apparent death do not stop Paul.  He is of the same mind as Christ.

  As we spend time reflecting on Paul’s words and his actions, we have the opportunity to gauge our own humility before God, and our own desire for unity with Christ no matter the cost.  Are we willing to be of the same mind as Christ?

  From the MAGNIFICAT Evening Prayer: Psalm 116:12 – How can I repay the Lord for God’s goodness to me? 

  The attitude of thankfulness is central to Christian spirituality.  The debt of gratitude we owe for God’s faithful love can be repaid only in a two-sided coin: turning to God in thanksgiving and doing for others what has been done for us.  (Mini-reflection)

  Be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms and hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.  And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  (Colossians 3:15-17)

  The Christology expressed here is paramount to our understanding of who Christ is and how we might expect ourselves to be in him as he is in us.  At the root of his divinity is his readiness to humble himself and to obey God . . . even to the point of death.  Are we willing to be of the same mind as Christ?

  Notes tell us that the hymn Paul cites in likely one that was sung by the early Christians; and we can understand how this song may have served to inspire the fledgling church as she struggled to survive.  We too, might use these words when we find ourselves floundering.  He emptied himself, taking the form of a slave . . . he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.

  When we are humble enough . . . and when we obey enough . . . then we can say we are in unity with Christ.  And when we can say this, we will be in that spot where serenity overcomes anxiety, and where love overcomes fear.

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  A re-post from USA Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 2012.

  Cameron, Peter John. “Prayer for the Evening.” MAGNIFICAT. 25.10 (2010). Print.  

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  December 13, 2019

  Acts 14, Colossians 3:15-17, love, obedience, Paul and Barnabas, Psalm 116:12, serenity, thanksgiving

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