fresh starts, forever friends...
Scripture: Galatians 1:21-22; After that visit I went north into the provinces of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And still the churches in Christ that are in Judea didn’t know me personally.
Observations: Remember, Paul was a Roman citizen and so he could travel freely into the Roman empire. So he did, and grew the Church in the gentile regions, away from Jerusalem. There was no judgement on Paul or his leadership, since he was the one converting, raising up and discipling the believers. The church in that region accepted his authority, while the church back in Judea didn’t even know him, although they heard news of him. It was a fresh start for Paul, and he invested his life fully into building the family of God in a new place. This fresh start became Paul’s family, as they always do.
Application: Have you ever needed a fresh start? A second chance, a place to prove yourself where you’re not being judged on your past? This is what Paul had in the North. A clean slate, where he was bringing the gospel for the first time, and the church was being formed and built. Here’s the interesting thing about fresh starts, in my experience. Fresh starts eventually become familiar places. They become home. God builds family wherever you go as you connect with others of the same Spirit. I moved to Mt. Vernon in 1982 and over 14 years His Place became my family. Gwen and I moved to Bothell in 1996, not knowing a soul, and over 5 years God forged lifelong friendships at Eastside Church. In 2001, we moved to Taiwan for 2 years, knowing 2 people, and got adopted into the missionary community there. That’s where we learned to play “Hand and Foot”. Then, back to Lynden, which oddly enough was a strange place for us, having been away for nearly 20 years. Here, God has graciously given us a family and deep, meaningful friendships that will last not only until our life on this earth ends, but on for eternity. I’m so grateful to know that in Christ, friends are forever, and friendships that are forged here in the imperfections of life will be perfected and last for all time! We will be united and One in Heaven.
Prayer: Jesus, thank You for my forever friends. I feel so blessed to know, and be known, by people of the same heart and spirit. Thank You that the loving investments we make in one another here will go on for eternity, with You.
