Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching.
But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”
But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus – May I put you first in all things. Amen.
While Paul and Barnabas were at Antioch of Syria, some men from Judea arrived and began to teach the believers : “Unless you are circumcised as required by the law of Moses, you cannot be saved.” Paul and Barnabas disagreed with them, arguing vehemently.
Finally, the church decided to send Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem, accompanied by some local believers, to talk to the apostles and elders about this question. The church sent the delegates to Jerusalem, and they stopped along the way in Phoenicia and Samaria to visit the believers. They told them—much to everyone’s joy—that the Gentiles, too, were being converted.
Prayer: Lord Jesus – all I need is you… your love, your mercy, and your grace. You’ve done it all, on my behalf, on the cross. Set me free from any rules or regulations that I might add in to all sufficient grace. And give me a welcoming spirit towards all whom you have called to yourself. To you be the glory. Amen.
Finally, they returned by ship to Antioch of Syria, where their journey had begun. The believers there had entrusted them to the grace of God to do the work they had now completed.
Upon arriving in Antioch, they called the church together and reported everything God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles, too. And they stayed there with the believers for a long time.
Prayer: Lord Jesus – May I be found faithful by the grace of God to complete the work you have entrusted to me. And may I be willing to walk through the doors you open for me. Amen.
After preaching the Good News in Derbe and making many disciples, Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia, where they strengthened the believers.
They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.
Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders in every church. With prayer and fasting, they turned the elders over to the care of the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.
Then they traveled back through Pisidia to Pamphylia. They preached the word in Perga, then went down to Attalia.
Prayer: Lord Jesus – Make me an encourager. Give me the wisdom when to speak… or not. Make me a strengthener. Give me strength and courage… to give away to others. Make me a servant. Give me discernment… to help identify and annoint servant leaders. Make me a pray-er… to offer myself as a living sacrifice to advance your Kingdom purpose where you have placed me. To you be the glory. Amen.
Hymn: “There’s a wideness in God’s mercy”
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There’s a wideness in God’s mercy like the wideness of the sea; there’s a kindness in his justice, which is more than liberty.
There is no place where earth’s sorrows are more felt than in God’s heaven: there is no place where earth’s failings have such kindly judgment given.
For the love of God is broader than the measure of the mind; and the heart of the Eternal is most wonderfully kind.
If our love were but more faithful, we should take him at his word; and our life be filled with glory from the glory of the Lord.
While they were at Lystra, Paul and Barnabas came upon a man with crippled feet. He had been that way from birth, so he had never walked. He was sitting and listening as Paul preached.
Looking straight at him, Paul realized he had faith to be healed. So Paul called to him in a loud voice, “Stand up!” And the man jumped to his feet and started walking.
When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in their local dialect, “These men are gods in human form!” They decided that Barnabas was the Greek god Zeus and that Paul was Hermes, since he was the chief speaker.
Now the temple of Zeus was located just outside the town. So the priest of the temple and the crowd brought bulls and wreaths of flowers to the town gates, and they prepared to offer sacrifices to the apostles.
But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard what was happening, they tore their clothing in dismay and ran out among the people, shouting, “Friends, why are you doing this? We are merely human beings — just like you! We have come to bring you the Good News that you should turn from these worthless things and turn to the living God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. In the past he permitted all the nations to go their own ways, but he never left them without evidence of himself and his goodness. For instance, he sends you rain and good crops and gives you food and joyful hearts.”
But even with these words, Paul and Barnabas could scarcely restrain the people from sacrificing to them.
Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowds to their side. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead. But as the believers gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town.
The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.
Prayer: Lord Jesus – I am just an ordinary person with my own follies and foibles… nevertheless I love you Lord. Help me to recognize people of faith when I meet then… and give me your heart – a heart of compassion and mercy. To you be the glory. Amen.
The Peanut Gallery 