Health Check

Press the play button to watch the video above or press 'more' to read the transcript of the daily devotion below. Please read Acts 14:21-28 (use your own Bible or use the link above to access the in-App Bible).

Reading from the start of Acts 14, you’ll recall that Paul and Barnabas’ last sermon divided the city of Iconium. So much so, that the Gentiles and Jews colluded and planned to stone them both in response. Moving on to Lystra; crowds from both Iconium and Antioch flooded in, stoned Paul, dragged and left him for dead outside the city. And yet, in the very first line of today’s passage we learn that Paul (and Barnabas) not only returned to these same cities but continued to preach there too. It begs the question, why would you return to cities where a death warrant with your name hangs and where you were left for dead?

If we ran a Lenten ‘health check’ on your local church family, what results might come back? Not weekly attendance statistics or the busyness of your church calendar. But what do the internal workings of your church look like? How well is the heart of your church beating? Is your local church physically and emotionally healthy or does it feel like you’re rolling from one struggle to another?

It's amazing to read that Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, whilst experiencing exponential growth in church attendance, were also places where deep spiritual struggles co-existed. Paul and Barnabus faithfully returned to these places to deliver a message of strength and encouragement not just for then, but also as a safeguard for the future.  

Today’s passage packs a powerful punch stating, ‘through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God’ (v.22). Whether you are on a missional high or a pastoral low, we must all look inwards; identify our strengths and weakness, name them and seek the strength and encouragement needed to ‘continue in the faith’ (v.22). Not just during the season of Lent but throughout the year ahead. 

Let us pray: Dear Lord, help me to look both inside myself and my local church. Help us identify where we might need support and create opportunities for us to encourage one another. Amen.