30 April 2013 - priorities set in stone

30 April 2013 - priorities set in stone

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give it to you.

Worldly peace is always short lived and yet we put so much energy into trying to preserve it.  We work so hard for comfort which is impermanent.  We give so much for pleasures which are transient.  Think back over the past week.  What did we invest in the lasting things of the kingdom and what did we invest in chasing pleasures and running from suffering?  There isn't anything wrong with entertainment or health or the myriad other things we seek.  But they ultimately can't satisfy us.  We need to be thankful for our temporal blessings but to be sure our hearts are set on higher things.

Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might.

How else can we even make sense of people like Paul?  After being stoned he immediately heads back into the city to continue the good work of proclaiming the good news.  The softer stones of discomfort easily keep us from the work of the kingdom, but not Paul.

They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city,
supposing that he was dead.
But when the disciples gathered around him,
he got up and entered the city. 

Paul can now use himself as an example of kingdom-centered living to build up his brothers.

They strengthened the spirits of the disciples

It is vital that they not only let God use them in this way but that they allow it to be an example to the whole community.

And when they arrived, they called the Church together
and reported what God had done with them
and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

Jesus is able to work with power in people who put the kingdom first.  He wants to work with power in us.  Let us heed the example of Paul and Barnabas so that our lives to may become examples of the power of the risen Christ.