REFLECT
I have a confession to make: As your pastor, I sometimes worry about you. I am charged by God to provide resources to nurture you spiritually—to see us grow in ever-increasing maturity in our faith. I know I don’t do this work alone. I deeply depend on and value the Holy Spirit, alongside each of us, showing us the way forward. But I feel this burden heavily some days. I mourn with you when you face burdens or griefs or challenges. I wonder regularly whether what we are doing is actually helping you grow, or whether it rings hollow or does not challenge you sufficiently.

That’s why Paul’s example here in the first century is so inspiring. Paul was undoubtedly invested in these churches he’d planted and sacrificed so much for. But he also had an unwavering confidence that God would be faithful to His Church. He told one new community, I am confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6). That’s why he could leave those cities with new budding church communities. He was relying on the churches regularly immersing themselves in the teaching of Jesus, the leadership seeking the Spirit’s direction, and the faithfulness of God, in whom they had put their trust. I’d like to say I have Paul’s confidence, but I’ll be honest: this is a growing edge for me. Instead, I make it a practice to regularly entrust you to God, knowing His love and faithfulness for you far exceeds any we on staff may have for you.

RESPOND
How is God inviting you to respond to Him in this season? How would you like to deepen your relationship with Him? Is there anything we can do as a church to help you with that? Similarly, how can you entrust those you love to God? What parameters or guidelines need to be in place in order for that to happen? For truly, in our history—both individually and corporately as the people of God—when has God ever not been faithful to us, even in the midst of suffering?

I’d love to hear if this was helpful to you. But don’t tell me. I’m entrusting you to God, and I’m pretty sure He’s going to come through on this one.  

READ
Acts 14:21-23
²¹ They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, ²² strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. ²³ Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.