Basic Christianity

Acts 13:4-5 The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.
 
THE Spirit has set Barnabas and Saul apart from the others in Antioch. We might think they are traveling on a long journey. Isn’t that what missionaries do? Not necessarily.
   The team, including John Mark, first stops in Seleucia, which was very close to Antioch. From their they go to Cyprus, Barnabas’ home. Barnabas is a missionary in his home country.
   Barnabas and Saul’s mission field was essentially at home in the Jews’ synagogues. Saul, who will soon be known as Paul, had a reputation among the Jews as a well-learned Pharisee. Synagogue rulers welcomed traveling rabbis and Pharisees to teach. Jesus did this often. It was a place God had prepared for the speaking and hearing of his Word.
   Home is the mission field for all of us, isn’t it? The Spirit sets us apart from the world, saved into Jesus’ atoning sacrifice. Set apart into Jesus, we are then set apart in Jesus’ command to be his witnesses to the world. Sometimes a church sets apart people to go into local neighborhoods to tell the gospel. Others may go to serve a food pantry. Some gather in prayer and Bible study. Others are commissioned to ministry in another state or country. There are many ways the Spirit-empowered churches set apart people for mission. We simply need to stop and understand what God is doing.
   Your mission could be a few steps outside our home or in a nearby town. God may send someone into your home, work place or your home church to use you for his mission to evangelize the gospel. Will you listen and respond?
   But what happens if people oppose you, even hatefully reject you? When Paul began speaking the gospel message, the synagogue’s welcoming words became harsh accusations. In the same way they rejected Jesus, the ruling Jews often threatened and abused the evangelists. For example, Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 11:25a Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned. As he faithfully responded to the Spirit’s call, Paul experienced Jesus’ severe purpose for his life: “I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” (Acts 9:16)
   Most of us have not suffered in Jesus’ name. But maybe we will if we follow Jesus far enough. If Paul, Barnabas, John Mark, the apostles and countless others throughout the ages had decided to “stay safe” in their faith, there would be no church. God, indeed, would be dead in the hearts of the world if those he had set apart had rejected his commands. Let’s be firm and courageous to be a missionary wherever we are.