Acts 13:3 “So after [the church leaders] had prayed and fasted, they placed their hands on Barnabas and Saul and sent them off.”
‘Hoosiers’ is a film about a small-town basketball team that amazingly made it to the state championship. During one tight game, the team coach brought a new player off the bench and into the action. The young lad, who was clearly religious, dropped to his knees to pray before going out on the court. Everyone waited, and waited… until eventually the coach leaned down and said, “Son, God wants you out on the court now.”
Some of us are like that – God has promised to be our strength, but we’re paralysed by fear into inactivity on the sidelines and still praying for him to strengthen us. A team effort involves those both courtside and centre stage. We all work together. Praying and going are both important. But sometimes we are praying as a justification for not entering the bustling fray of battle.
Barnabas and Saul left the safety of Antioch to journey far and wide into unchartered spiritual territory. They knew the importance of praying themselves, of being supported in prayer, and of course that the people they were going to needed them to come themselves to present the truth claims of Christ to the lost. That principle applies to all of us – as we send out missionaries to the nations, but also as we get out into our community or workplace or club (or wherever else) and share our hope in Jesus.
I remember back in my first job praying for months for a natural opening to share my faith with my suspicious housemates. When it eventually came, I was caught off-guard and blabbered away incoherently. Continuing with the above analogy, I needed to be keeping warmed up on the sideline ready at any moment for action.
Who are you praying for today? Are you ready for action?
Lord, use me today to pray and then enter the fray for you. Amen!
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