A Blessing to the Church

July 20

(Acts 15:3-4 NIV) “The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the brothers very glad. {4} When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.”

(Genesis 12:1-3 NIV) ““The Lord had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. {2} "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. {3} I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.””

(Psalms 89:15-17 NIV) “Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord. {16} They rejoice in your name all day long; they exult in your righteousness. {17} For you are their glory and strength, and by your favor you exalt our horn.”

When Paul and Barnabas were sent to Jerusalem, they were sent as representatives of the church. They sought the council of others and went in the name of others. They did not act as lone wolves, but as shepherds of a flock. They preached their way to Jerusalem, stopping several times to tell the story of Gentile conversions. They had been blessed by the church, and they became a blessing to the church. Are you a blessing to your church? If you told the story of what God has done through you in the last year, would it make people glad? Would the church rejoice if you shared about who had come to the Lord this year through your ministry? All of us are either a blessing to the church or a drain on the church. We all start out needing something, but the goal is that we grow to the point of contributing something. Be a blessing today! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day 

Sharp Dispute

July 19

(Acts 15:1-2 NIV)  "Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved." {2} This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.”

(Acts 15:5 NIV) “Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses."

Paul and Barnabas preached the gospel to the Gentiles, and many were saved. But then some Pharisees came from Jerusalem and told the new converts, “You must do more. If you want to really get right with God, you must obey all the Laws of Moses and be circumcised.” Paul and Barnabas disputed this claim, and a heated argument ensued. The debate was so significant that a council meeting with the apostles and elders of the Church was organized in Jerusalem. Paul and Barnabas did not just go off and start a new group of their own. They knew that the Church belonged to Christ, not them. They preached accountability, and practiced accountability. Some of the greatest doctrines of the Church have evolved from great disputes. Disagreement is not a bad thing when it seeks truth, and leads to prayer and godly dialogue. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day    

Come Apart and Rest

July 18

(Acts 14:28 NIV) “And they stayed there a long time with the disciples.”

(Mark 6:31 NIV) ““Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.””

After Paul and Barnabas reported on the churches they had planted, Scripture says they stayed in Antioch a long time. After an extended time in dangerous and high-pressure situations, they needed to rest and recharge, and that’s what they did. They would go out again, for that was their calling -- but for a time they had no qualms about taking it easy in order to regain their strength. Even apostles need rest. Jesus taught this concept to his disciples and we would do well to follow suit. In Mark 6:31, Jesus led His disciples to a quiet place where they could get some rest. Some older translations have Jesus saying, “Come apart with me for a while.” There is a Sabbath principle at work here, for even today, if we do not “come apart” for rest, we will eventually come apart. Constant work and stress with no relief, leads to breakdowns. Work hard for Jesus, but also take time to rest. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Maintaining Accountability

July 17

(Acts 14:24-27 NIV)  "After going through Pisidia, they came into Pamphylia, {25} and when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. {26} From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. {27} On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.”

(Luke 10:16-17 NIV) ““He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.” {17} The seventy–two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.””

(Mark 6:30-31 NIV) “The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. {31} Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

When Paul and Barnabas had finished their first missionary/church planting journey they returned to their home base in Antioch, and reported on what was accomplished. That’s accountability. They gave glory to God for what He had done, and it wasn’t for the purpose of raising funds. They were simply reporting -- being accountable to the brothers and sisters who had sent them out. Accountability is in short supply today. Be it individual Christians or large church bodies, we all covet “independence”. One of the first questions asked by many church-shoppers is, “Are you part of a denomination?” Being “independent” is now seen as a great spiritual virtue. But this is not what we see in the New Testament church. Accountability was highly valued… by Jesus, and by Paul the apostle. In light of the biblical record, perhaps we need to rethink our penchant for valuing “independence”. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day