We left off in the calm, before the storm. Literally and metaphorically. When I wrote the devotionals last week, the danger of a possible smashing blow from a hurricane seemed remote, at worst. Like so much spaghetti, the models confused our sensibilities. Then Beryl came barreling in. Looking around today, I wonder how Houston survived. We are a city in need. Am I wrong to think that even more than we need electricity, we need the power of God in our city?
When we left Luke’s story, yesterday (eight days ago as I wrote), all was well in Antioch. God had blessed their mission to the Gentiles. The church enjoyed a season of growth and encouragement. No storms appeared on their spiritual radar. Then out of nowhere, Judaizers came, disrupting the fellowship, demanding that these new Gentile believers pay their spiritual back-taxes by becoming submissive to the law. Barnabas and Paul resisted them steadfastly, seemingly to no avail.
How would they go forward? The church sent the missionaries back to Jerusalem to get counsel in what has become known as the Jerusalem council. Along the way, Barnabas and Paul shared the good news of their ministry with believers in present-day Lebanon, down through Samaria, and up to Jerusalem. The church welcomed them warmly. Everyone embraced. Then the Judaizers made their pointed case: Gentiles must become Jews to become believers.
To this day, when God begins a great work, critics speak out against it. In a recent denominational meeting, some made the case that their particular interpretation of scripture must govern the behavior of every church and minister. My forty-three years as a pastor cause me to believe that the demands emanate from a desire to control others. Our text reveals this behavior goes back at least 2000 years. Under the cloak of accuracy, the desire for power over others comes forward. Pharisaism rears its head. The horns honking at the airport last night reminded me that when we are bumped, we spill what we are full of.
What if this difficult time in our city drove us to prayer? What if we desired God’s power even more than we desired electricity? What if we surrendered the need to critique others and castigate their ministries? Tribulation turns to triumph as we take it to the Lord in prayer. More than anything, we need to hear God’s voice today. Thankfully, the Spirit speaks. Do we have ears to hear?
