Eastertide

May 20, 2019

Scripture Reading: Acts 16:9-15

During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’ When he had seen the vision, we immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia, being convinced that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.
–Acts 16:9-10

This is often noted as a key scripture because it records the first indication that Luke had joined Paul in his travels. It is the first use of Luke writing in first person, we/us. He felt he had been called to proclaim the good news along with Paul. Luke was a doctor and Paul had some sort of reoccurring health issue, which has made me wonder if Luke join the crew to be available if Paul needed medical care.  In any case, Luke identified as a lay leader sharing the call of ministry like most of Christ’s followers.

Paul outlines in 1 Corinthians 12 the diverse skills needed to complete the work we are called to do as we work together to usher in the Kingdom of God. All our varieties of talents are needed. As with Paul and Luke some preach, and some enable preaching. The list includes the following:

Apostles
Prophets
Teachers
Deeds of Power
Gifts of Healing
Forms of Assistance
Forms of Leadership
Gifts of Speaking in Other Languages

Most have skills for more than one of these areas of work, some multitask while others concentrate on one specific area. When I was a child my mother was almost always a teacher, and usually a leader, and one of the hardest working people around. I noticed as she aged, she shifted out of things she no longer had the stamina to do. My guess is she sent at least one get well, thinking of you, in sympathy card, to someone every day. Even when she was bedfast and to weak to write she practiced intercessory prayer. We have the same call as we work together to become one and change the world into one being ruled by love.

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for equipping us to serve you more nearly. Help us each to find our niche and develop it fully. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.