In Acts 13:1-3 we read of God’s calling of Barnabas and Paul, what we see is that they did not yet know what God wanted them to do in the future but they did know what He wanted them to do now so that is what they were doing. I love it, the basics are here! God is moving but we are not sure what to do and when to do it. So, stay plugged into the Church and keep busy doing what you know He has called for you to do. Again it is this setting that God speaks to them. God asks us to be faithful!
Notice three things about God’s direction.
• Now separate to Me: The call of God never happens upon a person apart from a deeper commitment to the Lord. You can not go forward until you first draw nearer. We often want God to tell us what to do or where to go instead what He says is, “Come to Me!”
• Barnabas and Saul: It is God who chooses the men! The Church did not select the men, God did. I doubt they would have pulled out so many valuable folks.
• For the work to which I have called them: God chooses the work. I love it! No doubt these men had already been hearing the Lord speak to them about reaching the Gentiles but it is God who chose them.
Do you see this? The call was clear but where to go and what to do was not. God very rarely gives us the blue prints of our lives. Instead, He gave a clear call to go but only enough information to keep us coming to Him for everything. Folks, life is meant to be a venture of faith!