David Bahn - Reflections

Thousands of people in Jerusalem don't become believers through the influence of 12 apostles alone. When persecution broke out in the church in its earliest days, and everyone except the apostles were scattered. Those who were scattered preached the gospel wherever they went. Something must have also been happening in Jerusalem so that 1000s were brought to faith.

We can learn a lot from these situations and happenings. May 1000s be brought to faith in our cities, communities, neighborhoods and families.

Paul will not have 30 like David did. But he will have four who will stand in the gap with and for him. They will complete a vow and vouch for Paul's faithfulness. There may not be a war in the same way as David fought, but there is a spiritual war going on. And the devil will use anything he can to derail God's mission. Thank God for those who stand with their leaders and fellow servants to defend, protect, pray for, and encourage those servants of the gospel. They are a blessing!

We may want to claim our lane and avoid letting someone in. But God calls us to give way for the sake of Christian love, and as a show of true humility. Paul was willing to do this for he had experienced the grace of God so richly and wanted people to know it so fully. How about us? Have we experienced the grace of God richly? Do we want people to know it fully? Give way!

God's will may not always be harsh or difficult. Sometimes it can be pleasant. He wills that his children love and honor one another. He wills that children are treated with love and compassionate care. He wills that all people be saved. When we see these things happening, we can rejoice in the goodness of God's will. But even when God's will takes us to difficult places, we can be sure that God's will is ultimately and always good. So, indeed, “Let the will of the Lord be done.”

Agabus' message of Paul's impending trouble was not intended to confront him, or call him to repentance. But it was a message that others needed to hear, along with Paul. This is an echo of what God told Ananias when he was sent to pray for Saul and restore his sight. “I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name,” God said of Saul. Paul didn’t just lose his Hebrew name when he started his missionary work. He lost privilege, power, and prestige among his Jewish friends. But he has already said that he is willing even to die for the sake of Jesus. I suspect that Agabus’ message may have been more for the sake of Paul’s friends, and his brothers and sisters in Christ. These wounds may be painful for those people to endure. But they may be trusted – driving them to God for comfort, hope, and peace.

When Paul leaves Tyre, heading to Jerusalem, the people there kneel on the beach in prayer. Luke was there with them. Note the "we" he uses to describe their action. It seems to me that this was an act of humility, foreshadowing the words of the disciples in Caesarea who say, “Let the will of the Lord be done.” Their prayers were urgent, tearful, seeking comfort from God, and protection and courage for Paul no doubt. 

They knelt and prayed. What a great example for us today. Humility. Urgency. Sincerity. Faith. These are the inward attributes of one after God's own heart, and they are expressed outwardly in kneeling. 

Luke's travelogue of Paul's journey recounts not only places, but people along the way. He connects with disciples in Tyre and stays there seven days. But then he's away again, heading toward Jerusalem. There he will be arrested. At the news of his impending arrest, binding, and being handed over to the gentiles (echoes of Jesus' treatment!), he will not be dissuaded. He says, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

Today marks 45 years since my ordination as a Lutheran pastor. I am deeply aware of the incredible privilege I've had over the years. Serving churches in Utah, Colorado, Arkansas, and now Texas has been a journey of joy, tears, challenges, breakthroughs, and deep and lasting relationships. We still occasionally connect with friends from those congregations. Some have stood by us in great stress. Some in joyful celebration. The constant is that Jesus' message of grace and truth has been the glue that holds us together.

The elders at Ephesus knew he had acted faithfully, ethically, and morally. They knew that jealousy and lack of faith drove the attempts at discrediting Paul's ministry. They knew that people were seeking to have their influence over the people in the churches Paul had planted. And they knew that Paul wouldn't be there to defend the true faith - though he would write letters to the Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and to Philemon from his Roman prison. Still yet his going was a loss. 

But even as we consider powerful missionaries or much-loved pastors leaving beloved people, we must also remember that graveyards are full of indispensable people. There will be others to carry on the mission and keep the church moving forward. 

We might want a better car, a nicer home, or even a backyard pool. But we never need to seek these things at the expense of others, or let them get in the way of seeking God's kingdom. A friend of mine decided several years ago to forego building a summer home in Colorado. They had all the money saved. They had the lot picked out and purchased. But they decided that if they built that place he wouldn't be able to teach his Sunday School class; it would get in the way of his pursuit of God's mission. 

May gold, silver or apparel never get in the way of my witness or God's rule and reign in my life.