Today's Lectionary TextActs 12:20-25Read slowly and prayerfully. What words or phrases stand out for you?Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they came to him in a body; and after winning over Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for a reconciliation, because their country depended on the king’s country for food. On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat on the platform, and delivered a public address to them. The people kept shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a mortal!” And immediately, because he had not given the glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. But the word of God continued to advance and gain adherents. Then after completing their mission Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem and brought with them John, whose other name was Mark.  Today's Devotional
Reflect: Is there one who you would consider to be your mission companion (a Paul to your Barnabas or a Barnabas to your Paul, etc.)? If not, describe your ideal mission companion—the one who would complement your strengths.
The story of Herod’s death and the perhaps more disturbing ones of Ananias and Sapphira—since it’s a tale about believers with misguided motives who are struck down (from Acts 5:1-11, Day 23) – make it clear that God is serious about this stuff. Power, wealth, responsibility, and education—the blessings of God are not fire to be toyed with or kept to ourselves and for our security or aggrandizement, but fire that is kept to ourselves and for our security or aggrandizement, but fire that is properly used for the glory of God. It confuses us that not every person who misuses power suffers public fall—it’s quite often the opposite—and we rightly hesitate to pin causality on others’ misfortunes. Still, we are called to faithfulness and fruitfulness, to look upon the world with the eyes of faith, and to partner with others to shine God’s kingdom light where there is injustice and pain. We can humbly and confidently leave the ultimate results up to God. -Laurie McHugh *Photo courtesy of the Nebraska Wesleyan campus ministry spring mission trip to Puerto Rico 2020 Prayer for ReflectionGod of Mercy and Justice, we pray that churches and faith communities in every town might find community partners with whom they might start and spread more Holy Spirit fires.
“Excerpted from the book “Catch Fire in 50 Days: Joining the Movement of God’s Mission in the World” by Blake Busick and Christie Latona.” |
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