GOD’S CALL
Today’s Reading: Acts 13
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion on the right-hand side).
This is Antioch. Today it is called Antakya in Turkey. Saul (Paul) and Barnabas were sent out from here as missionaries. Tradition says that Peter pioneered the Church here. At first, as was the Jewish custom, they spoke in the synagogue, but those who believed then gathered in a cave for Christian worship.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Acts 13:2-3
As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.
In chapter 9, Saul (later Paul) was sent by the Jerusalem Church to his home city of Tarsus. In chapter 11, Barnabas is sent from Jerusalem to find Saul. Barnabas and Saul settle in Antioch. Saul may have served the Lord here for a dozen years before the Holy Spirit revealed God’s plan for a missionary team which would reach other communities.
It is essential that God’s people remain faithful in a local Church. This is where mentoring takes place, and where ministry gifts can be developed. The experience at a home Church will confirm whether or not God has called us to a larger place in ministry. Our brothers and sisters who know us best will witness to God’s call. It was in Cyprus that Saul (which means “big”) became known as Paul (which means “little”). Perhaps when Saul exercised great authority, as recorded in verses 9 to 12, Barnabas recognized that Saul needed to constantly be reminded to keep humble. In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Paul tells us that God intervened to help keep him humble. The “thorn in the flesh” was so that Paul would not become “exalted above measure.” God knows our weaknesses and deals with us accordingly. Paul, educated in the rabbinical schools, knew his Hebrew Bible. Notice how he bases his preaching on God’s Word.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, please help me to preach and teach the Scriptures. Help me to learn from Paul’s way of communicating Your Word. Lord Jesus, You urged me to pray that “the Lord of the harvest would send forth labourers into His harvest field” (Matthew 9:38). You answered Your prayer request in the Antioch Church by calling two people into full-time service. Do this again and again in our day, I pray. Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
For years now, I’ve tried to remember to pray Jesus’ prayer request each morning. In the “Our Father,” Jesus tells us, “When you pray, say…” In our prayer for “labourers” (not big preachers or executives), we recognize that this is a call to, as Churchill put it, “blood, sweat and tears.” It’s a call to die to personal ambition or any kind of self-seeking. For Paul it meant genuine hardship. Check out 2 Corinthians 11:23-33. I ask myself upon reading these verses, “Do I still want everything God has planned for my life?” YES, YES, and YES!!!! I would like to be somewhere nearby when Paul stands before the Lord in the believer’s judgment (2 Corinthians 5:10). I must never take God’s call lightly. It is the most serious calling in the universe. Obedience must be my #1 priority.
Yours for a greater understanding of God’s call on your life and mine,
David
P.S. The photo of modern Antioch was the first one taken by my eldest son, Reynold, on a trip across Turkey, Greece, and Italy. He is the professional photographer in our family (Paul made tents to support his missionary calling). Ron, my younger son, is also an ordained minister. He and his wife Ann proofread every blog before it’s posted and add any needed links. Thank you, my sons.
This blog has been a blessing and so well structured for learning by all who make this possible. Thank you David, Reynold, Ron and Ann !! It’s been about 2 1/2 years now of beginning each day in God’s Holy Word and your thoughtful insight. Have a great day everyone in His Spirit and joy !! ☝️
Yes thank you David Ron and Ann and Reynold for the beautiful pictures
Great reading and message, today, David. Thank you for fulfilling your calling as a wonderful preacher and teacher of His Word. You have led so many to a personal and fulfilling relationship with Christ Jesus. Paul reminds us that God knows the truth of everything. “The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying” 2 Cor 11:31. We need to hold onto that when others may doubt us. “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” Ps 18:3. Paul’s thorn in the flesh is further a reminder for many of us who are stricken with an ailment or disability to hold onto our God for He is our strength. “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” 2 Cor 12:9. Our lives are about so much more than living on earth in the material world. We live for the purpose of serving our God with a reunion with Him. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” 2 or 5:10.
Wait patiently wait,
God never is late;
Thy budding plans are in Thy Father’s holding,
And only wait His grand divine unfolding.
Then wait, wait,
Patiently wait.
Trust, hopefully trust,
That God will adjust
Thy tangled life; and from its dark concealings,
Will bring His will, in all its bright revealings.
Then trust, trust,
Hopefully trust.
Rest, peacefully rest
On thy Saviour’s breast;
Breathe in His ear thy sacred high ambition,
And He will bring it forth in blest fruition.
Then rest, rest,
Peacefully rest!
–Mercy A. Gladwin
Good morning blog friends.
Thank you David Mainse and family for continuing to bring this daily bread to us. It is a real blessing to my start each day. Amen!
5 days a week, Saturday through Thursday at the age of 63, I work in and around more than 100 seniors who are unable to look after themselves in various degrees of disability… including Alzheimer’s. I bring supplies, meds, and nourishment from the main hospital and remove soiled laundry and waste to be recycled. I work in logistics…
Some of you know that I believe in the power of prayer to heal – having personally experienced God’s Grace and witnessing other miracles. How does one pray for healing here? I am healthy and generally cheerful in my work and some know that I am a born again Christian. I feel blessed to be able to work and am truly thankful for my wife, family, and current roll in life here on planet Earth.
I felt prompted to share that with you this morning. Have a truly blessed day blog friends…
There are many forms of healing besides physical healing, perhaps you could pray for their emotional or spiritual healing as well as improvements in their physical condition. As well as pray for their family members who are distress seeing their loved ones in such a state.
If the Lord has placed you there, you are already probably doing far more than you realize, just remain open, be ready to listen, and love them which will do more good than you know.
I know depending on their level disability they might not be able to verbalize their thoughts, but trust me, knowing God has put someone there who notices them, treats them as human even when they can’t respond will be felt and seen.
Remember miracles are in the eye of the beholder– for someone who has no one to care for them, someone holding their hand or giving them a hug is the miracle. Be encouraged you are doing fine.
Bless you for heeding the Holy Spirit.
Thanks Donna. …appreciate your incite.
What a great service u provide DL! We can still pray for these dear souls. As long as they are in their right minds they have the opportunity to make a choice. I pray they will come to Jesus. Those with Alzheimers, I believe, would have had to make their divine choice before the disease ruined their thought process. We’re in God’s hands after Alzheimers.
Keep on keeping on DL and may God continue to bless you and your family. Sorry, I’m one of those people who have to have an answer for everything.
Very commendable work you do David, like a ministry in and of itself ! Your presence and services must mean a lot to the residents and staff. Your prayers, acts of kindness and reliability surely make a difference to everyone. May you and yours enjoy the spirit of Christ this Christmas and safe travels in 2015 !!
Dear David,
Besides your blog being a blessing, thanks for mentioning your sons being a blessing. What a comfort it must be for you to have two sons who love The Lord and respect you.
My response is basically today to thank them for how they honour you and to encourage them to proudly walk their walk with The Lord. To follow in the footsteps of a man of God of your stature is no easy fate and needs our prayers and admiration. May The Lord continually grow them and bless them in the work He has prepared for them.
Helen
I understand David L’s question but I think there are things we will never understand while here on earth. Some are amazingly healed and others are not. A video of an older lady at Glad Tidings on Sunday depicted her healing of a deadly form of cancer through quite a few years of cancer. It is truly a miracle. David M., of course, had a similar miracle. Others have not. Some remain in wheelchairs all their lives and miss the things we take for granted. Right now, we need a miracle. We know we will meet again on the other side so it’s not too devastating. It is great to be learning daily of things that may have been unnoticed with former readings and teachings. I did not know the meaning of Saul and of Paul. I will write that down in my “lesser known” file! God bless all.
Great message and prayer today, David, Reynold, Ron and Ann. Continually being nourished by this blog. Yes, we must not take our calling lightly. Thank you fellow bloggers for your postings as well. Blessings and strength for the winter.
God bless you all. Thanks for the blog, the pictures, the prayers, the poem and the comments. God is good.
Everytime I think of Turkey I think of Noah’s ark. Great pic of Antioch and thanks very much Reynold.
Found this writeup about Noah’s ark and thought I’d share. Blessings fellow bloggers.
http://www.sunnyskyz.com/good-news/470/noah-s-ark-has-been-found-why-are-they-keeping-us-in-the-dark-
thnx for the post and your best wishes Lynda
Thank you David, Ann, Ron and Renold for all the work you do for our blog
it is much appreciated and David for your personal words to.
D.L. keep praying for their spiritual mental and physical healing and there families
By the way my email address is all in under case letters.
I am loving this daily reading/ teaching, and am getting so much out of it.
Using the notes in my study bible certainly adds enrichment, and checking out the references enlarges understanding.
I have not done a daily bible reading at a set time in the a.m. before. It certainly is a better time than as previously when done after the evening meal, Many times one goes out, watches a TV show, or there is some other interruption. A hit andiss approach. Setting this early a.m. time before one starts the day makes it the needed priority that it should be in ones life, and it establishes a great mind set and attitude with which to set out.
Still being blessed by the daily manna thru our blog.
Thank you Mainse family for this daily manna. Much appreciated your time, effort and exhortations, beautiful pictures to accompany and enhance the scripture of the day. Thank you!!!
Thank you Lynda for the link on Noah’s Ark…when we get to Heaven we will know exactly where it settled and where it is:)
Blessings to all for sharing
You’re most welcome Irene.