SET APART AND SENT

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

But the word of God continued to spread and flourish.

When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.

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. 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.”

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

Acts 12:24-25, 13:1-3

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Yesterday’s devotion from some of the final verses of Acts 12 found King Herod Agrippa struck down by the Lord after allowing people to proclaim him a god (small “g”). He perished on the spot and the scriptures tell us that he was devoured by worms. Not a pretty sight.

You’ll remember that Herod has restarted a persecution campaign and he began by beheading James, one of Jesus’ first disciples before arresting and imprisoning Peter. Much to the delight of the Jews, Herod was trying to kill Christianity but in the end, he was the one who ended up dead.

As for the word of the Lord, we read today how it continued to spread and flourish as Barnabas and Saul finished their mission in Jerusalem and traveled north, returning to Antioch with another disciple named Mark (also known as John). Mark was the son of Mary and we saw in Acts 12 how Peter went to Mary’s home after his divine escape from Herod’s captivity. Now, Mark would accompany Barnabas and Saul on their missionary journey and later would write a Gospel that would bear his own name.

As chapter 13 opens, we are given a roll call of the prophets and teachers which included the following:

Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul

We can obviously see that there was no shortage of people the Lord could use for His purposes. We also see where He’s the One who makes the call, setting apart who He so chooses to carry out what He wants done.

We know this because the scriptures tell us that while the Christian leaders and believers were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit came upon them demanding that Barnabas and Saul be set apart “for the work to which I have called them.”

Notice that this work wasn’t made known immediately. Barnabas and Saul didn’t know their destination or anything else about what was ahead. They only knew that they had been set apart for special purposes and were willing to go where the Lord sent them to do what He wanted them to do. That’s all that really mattered and after a period of fasting and prayer, the Christians in Antioch laid hands on the Lord’s two chosen apostles and sent them on their way to answer the Lord’s calling.

Friends, as Christians, we need to be prepared to be set apart ourselves. For the Great Commission given to all believers by Jesus is not a call to just sit around. Rather, it is a call to get busy, to actively go and make disciples, baptizing them and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commanded. This is our purpose in life through our Savior.

The question is…Are we ready to go when He calls us?

Barnabas and Saul didn’t hesitate, even when they didn’t know where they were going or what their work would entail. They went in obedience and with faith in their Lord.

We need to be willing to follow their lead and do likewise.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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