Acts 13:2-3: “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.” [NIV]
Work. Toil. Sweat. Labor. Drudgery. PASSION!
There is a work that becomes a passion; it is the one to which the Holy Spirit calls us. Barnabas and Paul were called for a particular work. The church anointed them for that work and sent them off to complete it.
In the next chapter, they will return to Antioch and report back what happened on this missionary journey. “On arriving [in Antioch], they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.” [Acts 14:27 NIV]
Work that is done for God becomes a passion. Surely, our bodies grow weary at times. Surely, we may face opposition. Surely, the work may be difficult and hard. We may find that we have “toiled” in the heat of the day, but there is something that energizes us when we work our passion. The power of the Holy Spirit in us enables us to keep going and keep thriving.
We may not be called to go to foreign places as missionaries like Barnabas and Paul. We may not be called even to work in the church or Christian organizations. But we are all called to a work for God, wherever it is performed.
We have been “set apart” by the Holy Spirit. That PASSION! should consume us until we are spent out. Amen.
