While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” (Acts 13:1)
God continued creating a responsive people to Himself. The message of life with God through Jesus had just begun to move from the Jews to the Gentiles at this point in time. Antioch had become a center of God's work, and people knew the Holy Spirit's leadership. Barnabas had followed the Spirit's prompting when He brought Saul (also known as Paul) to Antioch. Saul had trained and equipped many disciples to live responsively to the Messiah. As a small group with him worshiped, they heard the Spirit very clearly. The message must have reverberated deeply in Saul's soul, since over ten years ago he'd heard this call on the Damascus Road. Jesus, who'd met Saul there, reiterated His purposes through the Spirit to him. The same God, the same call, the same love encountered.
Saul and Barnabas did not delay in their response. The community, those with them at the time, had confirmed the word, whether it came by prophecy or impression. They all heard. They all knew the God who spoke and what He desired: the expansion of His Kingdom to the ends of the earth. The community sent them out, knowing God, by His Spirit, would guide them. Their responsiveness to God, both as a community and individuals, meant they easily recognized the quality and character of His voice. And the character of these men, bathed in the Spirit, soaked in a lifestyle of prayer, overflowing with responsiveness to God, wafted the aroma of Christ's love everywhere they went. The trail they left increased as the disciples of Christ they made entered the same lifestyle of communion and responsiveness to God, encouraging those around them to do the same. Listening to the Spirit through prayerful attentiveness accomplishes more than can be seen.
For Reflection:
“Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground” (Psalms 143:10 NAS95)
- What happens when you take time just to be silent before the Lord?
- What posture of the heart reflects waiting on the Lord? How does expectancy, openness or attentiveness play into that?
