(Read Acts 16:1-3)
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing.” Paul’s first missionary journey team was comprised of the Apostles Paul and Barnabas, and John Mark as their assistant. John Mark left the trip early, much to the chagrin of Paul. So when it was time to go on the second missionary journey, Paul refused to allow John Mark on the trip. Barnabas was committed to forgiving the young man. Paul and Barnabas could not come to an agreement, mainly because Paul was hard-headed, so the two Apostles split up. Barnabas partnered with young John Mark and the two sailed for Cyprus, as they had during the first journey. Paul in turn teamed up with Silas, who was in town from Jerusalem, and the two traveled throughout Syria and Cilicia.
Paul went first to Derbe and then to Lystra, where there was a young disciple named Timothy. Timothy’s mother was a Jewish believer, but his father was a Greek. Timothy was well thought of by the believers in Lystra and Iconium. Paul immediately took a liking to young Timothy. Maybe it was because Paul saw a little of himself in the young man. Like Paul, Timothy had a mixed background. Paul’s father was a Jew (a Pharisee) and his mother a Roman. But unlike Paul Timothy was not circumcised. Paul’s father, being a Jew, made sure he was circumcised on the 8th day of life. Timothy’s father, being a Greek, did not force the tradition on his son. This posed a minor issue for Paul. While Paul was clearly not an advocate of the Law and he vehemently argued with anyone who made circumcision a requirement of Christianity, Paul also knew that if he took an uncircumcised person with him on the journey, that it would be more trouble than what it was worth. Paul knew the team would come across hard-core Jews on the trip, who would refuse an uncircumcised person to teach in their synagogues. So, the Bible says, “In deference to the Jews of the area, he arranged for Timothy to be circumcised before they left.”
While the issue of circumcision might seem trivial to you and I today, I want you to know that these traditions were no small matter to the religious zealots of the time. Some were so connected to their traditions that they refused to hold any sort of meaningful conversation with anyone who did not abide by them. This meant that if Paul was going to reach people, he was going to have to meet them on their level, at least to get the conversation going. Paul wrote the following about this: “When I am with the Jews, I live like a Jew to win Jews. They are ruled by the Law of Moses, and I am not. But I live by the Law to win them. 21 And when I am with people who are not ruled by the Law, I forget about the Law to win them. Of course, I never really forget about the law of God. In fact, I am ruled by the law of Christ. 22 When I am with people whose faith is weak, I live as they do to win them. I do everything I can to win everyone I possibly can. 23 I do all this for the good news, because I want to share in its blessings” (1 Cor 9:20-23).
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. We all need a Paul. Last week I made the point that we all need a Barnabas in our lives; someone to encourage us and help us along the way. Well, we all also need a Paul. Paul saw something in Timothy worth investing in and he took a risk on the young man. Paul’s risk and investment paid off. Timothy became an excellent Pastor and a key character in the first century church. I can name several people, in both my military and ministry careers, that have taken an interest in me, and who have willingly mentored me through the years. Without my mentors I would not be where I am today. I am thankful to God for them, and for the investment they made in me, even when I was barely worth investing in. Thank God for your “Pauls”; for the mentors God has used to get you where you are today.
2. We all need a Timothy. Just like we have people who have made a significant investment in us, we should then, in turn, seek out people whom we can make an investment in. In other words, since God has been so good to us, and He has sent people our way, to pour into our lives, we should then pray about the people we can in turn pour into. We can take the things we have learned and help others, the way God has sent key people to help us. So, if God has been good to you (and I trust He has), then you should seek to BE a blessing to people who are aspiring to achieve what you have already achieved by the Grace of God. God’s Grace has come TO you, now allow it to flow THROUGH you.
3. You are graced to reach your sphere of influence. Paul and Timothy had diverse backgrounds so they were able to reach both Jews and Gentiles. Peter was 100% Jew and his ministry was primarily focused on Jews. This is not to say that Peter was not successful or that he made a lesser impact that Paul or Timothy. My point is that we are all gifted and Graced to reach a certain group of people. No matter who that group is, we must be diligent in reaching them. God’s Grace towards you is too powerful and too significant to be JUST for you. God wants you to make a difference in the sphere of influence He has graced you to reach. Are you making that difference? If not, start today!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for Your Grace, loving kindness and tender mercy towards me. You have been better to me than I deserve. You sent people to take a risk on me, even when I probably would not have taken a risk on myself. You sent people to make an investment in me, and they poured into me the things they had learned over the years. The mentorship I have received is invaluable to me. Without my mentors I would not be the man/woman I am today. I have learned from my mentors, both what to do and what not to do, and for that I will forever be grateful. You are my God; a God I cannot see. And You send me mentors I can see, who I can connect with, easily relate to and receive from on my level. And now Father, You have blessed me to be at a place in my life where I can return the favor. You now bless me TO BE a blessing to others. I have been mentored, and now You bless me to mentor others. You show me the people I am anointed to mentor. You send me to them and them to me. You connect us together and I pour into them the things that have been freely poured into me. I am so grateful to be able to give back and to be a blessing to others. I take a risk with young people, because You took a risk with me. As I do, I get to see You grow them, develop them, and mature them into the man/woman of God You have destined, designed and desired for them to be. Thank You Father for using me to leave an indelible mark in this world. I am making a mark that shall never be erased. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
