Reflecting God: Embrace Holy Living from The Foundry Publishing of The Global Church of the Nazarene in Kansas City, Missouri, United States "Waiting for Results" by Mary Egidio for Saturday, 24 November 2018 RG112418 Acts 14:19-28

Reflecting God: Embrace Holy Living from The Foundry Publishing of The Global Church of the Nazarene in Kansas City, Missouri, United States "Waiting for Results" by Mary Egidio for Saturday, 24 November 2018 RG112418 Acts 14:19-28
Acts 14:19 Then some unbelieving Jews came from Antioch and Iconium. They won over the crowds, stoned Sha’ul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. 20 But as the talmidim gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town. The next day, he left with Bar-Nabba for Derbe.
21 After proclaiming the Good News in that city and making many people into talmidim, they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, 22 strengthening the talmidim, encouraging them to remain true to the faith, and reminding them that it is through many hardships that we must enter the Kingdom of God. 23 After appointing elders for them in every congregation, Sha’ul and Bar-Nabba, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord in whom they had put their trust.
24 Passing through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. 25 After speaking the message in Perga, they came down to Attalia; and from there, they sailed back to Antioch, 26 the place where they had been handed over to the care of God for the work which they had now completed.
27 When they arrived, they gathered the Messianic community together and reported what God had done through them, that he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they stayed for some time there with the talmidim. (Complete Jewish Bible).
How impatient we modern humans can be! We hate waiting. We want to see immediate results, we want immediate answers, and if we don’t see them, we consider our efforts to be in vain. Just pause and think about patience the next time you are waiting in the traffic light!
Just look at Paul and Barnabas in their travels. They share the Good News of Jesus, but their words are somehow misunderstood, and they often face opposition and danger. Paul is stoned and left for dead, yet, through the power of the Holy Spirit, he gets up, brushes off the dust, and moves on to another city—compelled by His commitment to serving God and sharing His message. Through Paul’s total commitment to God, the Gospel spread and hundreds came to know Jesus. These committed servants of God don’t always see the results of their ministry. Like the saints mentioned in Hebrews 11, they don’t always see the promises of God before death.
Have you been waiting to see the results of your efforts for God? Have you faced opposition? Don’t give up. Don’t be discouraged. God is working, even if you can’t see the results.
Hymn for Today: "Take Time to be Holy" by William D. Longstaff
1. Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.
Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.
2. Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.
3. Take time to be holy, let Him be thy Guide;
And run not before Him, whatever betide.
In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord,
And, looking to Jesus, still trust in His Word.
4. Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul,
Each thought and each motive beneath His control.
Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love,
Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.
Thought for Today: Only conduct your lives in a way worthy of the Good News of the Messiah; so that whether I come and see you or I hear about you from a distance, you stand firm, united in spirit, fighting with one accord for the faith of the Good News, (Philippians 1:27).
Please pray: For the child development programs that minister to children in Mesoamerica.
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