God’s instrument

When we arrived in ·Jerusalem, the believers welcomed us warmly. The next day Paul went with us to see James; and all the church elders were present. Paul greeted them and gave a complete report of everything that God had done among the Gentiles through his work. After hearing him, they all praised God. (verses 17-20a)

Read Acts 21: 15-26

Many think of Paul as being one of the great men of faith. We can only marvel at how much he achieved in his lifetime and the miracles he performed, despite constant arguments and persecutions. But to focus on Paul the man would be to miss the point of what he did and why he did it. In fact, it wasn’t really Paul who achieved all these wonderful things but God.

God sent Paul. God gave him the message to preach. God constantly protected him. God rescued him from trouble. God made Paul’s humble work prosper.

You too are an instrument of God. God has sent you among people to be a message of peace and hope. If you were to rely on your own strength and talents you would ultimately fail. But if you rely on God, even when things seem impossible, you and others will recognise God at work. Then your praise will never focus on human effort but on what God does through people.

Dear God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Paul, help me to see you at work in my life so that I may praise you alone. Amen.

by Stuart Kleinig, in ‘Guidance for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2002)

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