By Jessica Patchett
There’s no substitute for good, old-fashioned face time. Without it, words lack feeling and clarity, relationships are zapped of intimacy, conflicts fester, and causes lose support.
In the most pivotal moment in God’s relationship with the world, God didn’t just send prophets and angels with decrees of a new plan for the world. Rather, God moved heaven and earth to visit humanity face to face. God’s message of salvation and the invitation to a new relationship deserved more than Global Priority mail - it warranted in-person delivery.
When we care about the messages we deliver, the people with whom we communicate, and what happens after we exchange words, we invest time and energy in face time.
The religious leaders of Jerusalem lived in the epicenter of religious power. Jerusalem was the home of the Temple and the place where prophets promised the world would come to worship as it turned to God. It’s no wonder that Paul and Barnabas went to Jerusalem to check in about the message they had received on matters of circumcision and the Law - it made sense that important things might be decided in Jerusalem.
What’s a bit surprising is that when religious leaders in Jerusalem made a big decision about what would happen in Antioch, they didn’t simply issue a decree or send word through someone who was going that way anyway. Instead, the Jerusalem leaders went the second mile. They elected two people from among themselves to travel with Paul and Barnabas and share the outcome of their deliberations in person and face to face.
And what do you suppose the outcome of their travels was? The believers in Antioch were delighted and encouraged; the believers in Jerusalem received, in return, a message of peace; and the mission of Jesus Christ grew in strength.
- The ministry of Jesus Christ seems to be inherently relational, intimate and personal. How were you invited into the people of God? How did you learn how to be a part of the people of God?
- How might the mission of Jesus Christ and the church be strengthened by more face-to-face interactions among God’s people and their neighbors?
- Take a look at Acts 15:36-41. When might it be appropriate for two people to suspend face-to-face interaction?
Prayer: Merciful God, sometimes we take great joy in being face to face with your people. Other times, it’s hard to stay in a conflict with someone. Help us to know when to wrestle with others, when to simply enjoy others’ company, and when to take time apart. Amen.
