God does what he says he will do
by Sal Huckel
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While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them’ (Acts 13:2).
Read Acts 13:1–12
We are familiar with Paul’s letters being read in church and we may think about them as we encourage each other with Scripture. Let’s take some time today to read this passage about Paul’s first mission. Grab your Bible or click on the link, if you haven’t already. I’ll wait …
Saul is new to the faith. We have here his commissioning, in accordance with the Holy Spirit, who instructs the apostles to set him apart with Barnabas and send them both out together. On their first mission trip, they encounter a false prophet, a magician, who tries to turn a proconsul away from the faith (verses 7,8).
What stands out to you in this encounter? For me, it’s the continuance of the theme we encountered yesterday. Nothing will stop the word of God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, from accomplishing what the Lord is setting out to do.
‘But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time”’ (verses 9–11).
We might remember Isaiah’s references to making straight the way of the Lord (Isaiah 40:3, 45:2). Here we have the opposite forces of the devil in effect. The false prophet’s ploy fails because Saul’s rebuke and miraculous intervention is a perfect example of the ‘highway being made straight’ through the power of the Holy Spirit.
We serve a God who does what he says he will. If we are in his service, he will flatten the highways and make straight the path of his will. We must, like Paul, resist the false prophets who are still in existence today, sometimes in our midst. The Lord will deal with them, too, so that those seeking him will find truth, despite their interference.
Lord, set us apart for your mission. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, received in our baptism, work in us to bring truth to those who seek you and give us discernment to call out and disable false teachings sent from the enemy to distract from, and confuse, your sovereign will. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Sal is married to Pastor Matthew Huckel and they live in Victoria with their six children. Music, theology, literature and languages are passions the family share and explore together. Sal loves writing, speaking and walking to the beach at every opportunity.
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