Sent

DEVOTION

THE BOOK OF ACTS

SENT

Acts 13:4-5

4 The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.

NIV

So here we are with a travel log of Paul, Barnabas and John as their helper. Now of course this is no ordinary travel log as it is one in which the Holy Spirit was the travel agent planning and sending them on their way, being of course the best travel agent ever, going along with them as a tour guide. It is interesting that we should be told that John went with them as their helper. What is that all about? But before we get to John let us first examine this being sent by the Holy Spirit. They were sent, by his influence, under his authority and under his continual direction. This is the way all our lives should be lived. Without his influence they were not qualified to go in the first place, without his authority they had to authority to go anywhere, and without his continual direction they would not know where to go. If we want to be believers who declare we are followers of Jesus, then we need to be followers. This means we do not go until we are sent, because we have no authority to go unless he gives it to us and we have no idea where we should be going unless he is directing our footsteps. It does seem sometimes we tend to forget about all that and simply try to make our own plans, doing our own thing, so to speak. But as we will see Paul and Barnabas had the power of God in their lives, speaking as from the mouth of God to the ears of men, as well as being so filled with the Spirit they were vessels of miracles, or miraculous signs and wonders. If we want to live according to our own thoughts based on our desires, ambitions or plans, then perhaps we should be used to living solely in our humanity just going through the motions of Christianity. But if we really want to live as believers such as Paul and Barnabas, as well as so many others we read about, then we need to make sure we are sent by the Holy Spirit as they were. Of course we are not traveling missionaries, but then maybe we really are. The place we live, the careers or jobs we have, the churches we attend, are all part of being sent by the Holy Spirit. We should be living under his influence, his authority and his continual direction. It might have been a whole lot easier of a life for Paul and Barnabas if they had settled down somewhere outside of Jerusalem relaxing in the joy of the Lord, enjoying a thriving tent making business and simply heading out each Sabbath to join the others in worship. The Holy Spirit had other plans for them, and as believers who were filled with the Holy Spirit and faith they lived by the Spirit, under his influence, under his authority and under his continual direction. Should we do any less? Now as far as John was concerned, he too must have been sent by the Spirit, but as a helper, a deacon of sorts, a servant to them, assisting in any way needed. Is not helps one of the gifts of the Spirit? This is evidence that John was also sent by the Spirit, perhaps not to be the lead person of the group, but nevertheless none less important, as we are all members of the body of Christ each with our own calling, with Jesus as the head. We all should be living according to the influence, authority and direction of the Spirit. We all should be living as one sent.