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Friday, September 28, 2012

You Are Here! (Acts 14:27)



A segment of many (if not all) of Joyce Meyer’s Enjoying Everyday Life TV episodes is devoted to reporting to her ministry partners about the work that is being accomplished because of their contributions to her ministry.  She says, “You Are Here” – in India, Thailand, Africa, Guatemala, the streets of St. Louis, etc.  Her partners may not be there physically, but they are in spirit.  By acknowledging viewer support of her ministry, she validates the contributions of people who can’t (or haven’t been called to) physically leave their homes to go to impoverished regions of the country/world; she acknowledges that she couldn’t do what she does without the support of her viewers.

As Paul and Barnabas returned to their home-church at Syrian Antioch, Luke says in Acts 14:27 that, “they gathered the church together and declared all that God had accomplished with them…” (Amplified, emphasis mine).  God had certainly done some amazing things through and for Paul and Barnabas on their journey, but I think that, in reporting back to the church, Paul and Barnabas were essentially saying to them (in the words of Joyce Meyer) “You are here!” – in Cyprus, Pamphylia, Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, Perga. 

These believers had “commended [Paul and Barnabas] to the grace of God” (Acts 14:26).  They had separated them “for the work to which [God] had called them” (Acts 13:2).  The church of Syrian Antioch was able to walk on ground their own feet would never tread and stir the hearts and minds of people they would never see through the feet and words of two of their own – Paul and Barnabas.  I wonder what or who you are reaching – maybe it’s with your own arms or maybe it’s with the arms of a representative. 

At first glance, you may not feel like your reach is very significant, but consider how much greater your wingspan becomes when you include contributions you make through your local church, your denomination, ministry partnerships (like Joyce Meyer’s), this online community, etc.  Consider how much greater and more powerful your reach becomes when you change your perspective from an individual person to a member of the Body of Christ, which as believers we are (1 Cor 12:27)!

It is God’s will and desire for the Good News of the salvation of Jesus Christ to reach people through us.  To whom is He reaching out through you today?  You’re not reading this by accident.  You are here for a reason!

“… And who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this and for this very occasion?” (Esther 4:14).

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