The Acts of Disciples
They Have Normal Routines
Scripture Reading: Acts 14:1-7
Key Verse: Acts 14:1
At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed.
When Paul and Barnabas moved on to minister in a new town (Iconium), they had no idea what the response was going to be. They simply stuck to their routine which was going to the Jewish synagogue and sharing the message of the Good News of Jesus Christ. They thought about doing more of what they always did rather than worrying about the results. As it turned out, they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed their message.
One of the lessons for us is to develop spiritual routines that help us be effective in our walk and work for God.
Routines such as praying at the times of day at which you are at your best. Also finding a good routine for reading and studying your Bible each day. Hopefully, you have a church routine; times that you get together with your church family and worship together. Perhaps you have other routines that you’ve found helpful in your walk with God. These kinds of routines when you follow them carefully keep your relationship with God strong and growing.
Note the wording of our Key Verse for today, they “went as usual into the Jewish synagogue”; it was their routine and they stuck to it.
The second lesson is that God blesses our spiritual routines, sometimes when we least expect it.
God certainly did bless Paul and Barnabas with great numbers of people that believed their message. That did not happen every time they spoke, but they never allowed the results, good or not, to stop them from doing what they felt they should do.
I know in my personal routines, there are times when they do not seem to make much difference. But other times, they enrich my spiritual life and make me so glad I did not give up during the dry periods.
Do not expect that every time we pray or read our Bible, that we will have those wonderful feelings that we all love to have at times. Do not expect that going to church and worshipping with our fellow believers will give us an “emotional high” every time.
God wants us to learn to do what is right and leave the results to Him. God knows what we need and when we need it. If we continue in our spiritual routines, even when they seem dry and ineffective, then God will honor us when we least expect it. God will open the windows of heaven, pouring out His spiritual blessings upon our faithfulness.
Mature Christ-followers develop routines to draw close to God and stick to them even when they do not feel like it.
Father, grant me wisdom to know what routines will keep me passionate for You. Help me to be faithful to them, even when it is difficult. In Jesus’s Name, I pray, amen.