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February 15, 2022

Acts 13:1-4

Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.

New International Version (NIV)

Which big cat would win, a tiger or a lion? Zoologists say a lone tiger would defeat a lion in a fight. On the other hand five lions would defeat five tigers because the lions hunt in a pack. All five would defeat one tiger at a time.

There is something to be said for teamwork. So often the church has focused on the individual. But our spiritual dna reveals a long history of working together in a community. The church at Antioch had five leaders. This team was making disciples in the church. Notice their diversity. These leaders were from different places, different ethnicities and perhaps from different financial backgrounds. When they prayed together God confirmed to the group what he had been saying to Barnabas and Saul.

After praying and fasting, the leadership team and the whole church sent Saul and Barnabas out. In the next verse Luke tells us the Holy Spirit sent them on their way. Who sent them? Was it the church or the Holy Spirit? Yes. Together they found God’s will and together they obeyed. Through prayer, the Spirit’s work became the church’s work.

Which team are you on? We cannot live the Christian life well if we are isolated from other believers. United we stand. Divided we fall. As the Psalmist wrote in 133, “How good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters live together in unity. . .There God bestows his blessing, even life forevermore!”

Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, we thank you for giving us life to share together in community. Today we repent of our isolation and independence from the larger body of Christ. Help us to share life together and to find our way together. Lead your church today so that your work becomes our work. Make us a life-giving people. We pray together in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Our 2022 Every Day with Jesus readings will cover the whole Bible in one year. Copies of the reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download your copy here:

2022 Reading Plan

We would love for you to join us as we read through the Bible this year. In addition, I will continue my long-standing practice of reading one Psalm a day through the year. As we journal together this year, Highlight a verse that stands out to you, Explain what it means, Apply that truth to your life and Respond to what you’ve read with an action or prayer.

Joyfully,
Duane

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