By Bill Lamar
The prophet-preachers at Antioch commissioned Barnabas and Saul for the work to which God had called them. After fasting and praying, they laid hands on these two servants of God. And after commissioning, they went immediately to the synagogues to preach and to teach along with John Mark. Then came opposition.
Shiny new preachers, and doctors, and teachers, and mechanics all have one thing in common. Soon comes opposition. Be it internal or external. The coming of opposition, even competition, seems to be a requisite part of the maturation process.
Newly ordained, if you will, Barnabas and Saul encounter a wizard who wants to prevent them from converting the governor. Soon comes opposition. But the governor becomes a believer anyway.
As we attempt to travel this journey of faith, I am inclined to say that ours is a faith of anyway. Soon comes opposition. Move on anyway. These are they who would hinder God’s work in you. Move on anyway. Things got rough and John Mark went back to headquarters. Move on anyway. The one who had been struck blind at Damascus preached from Exodus to resurrection to a crowd of potential cynics. Preach anyway.
They preached anyway. And people came. Success and defeat came so quickly that they could hardly differentiate between the two. Opposition appeared. But they refused to back down. They followed God anyway. They opened the doors of God’s grace to recalcitrant religious types, and they opened those same doors to receptive Gentiles. And even when the religious, influential folk sought to shut them down, they kept on going. Soon came opposition. But they went on anyhow.
- How about you? How do you handle opposition? How much does it take to shut you down?
- Paul and Barnabas kept on preaching; they kept on being obedient. What will it take for you to carry on in spite of opposition? What will it take for your church to carry on?
- What surprised you in today’s reading?
Prayer: Gracious God, we are tired and we don’t know how to go on in spite of opposition. Show us the way and give us the courage to follow. Amen.
