Important Decisions & Prayer

EASTER 4, WEDNESDAY: ACTS 12:24-13:5A, PSALM 67, JOHN 12:44-50

Our first reading tonight from the Acts of the Apostles offers an account of one of the most important decisions in Church history - the commision of Paul for mission. After his conversion Paul and Barnabas taught and ministered in Antioch, raising money for those suffering from a famine in Jerusalem. Our reading today begins when Paul and Baranabas return from Jerusalem after delivering the relief to the churches there. The decision, guided through the message of the Holy Spirit, to send out Paul for mission work is made during worship and fasting.

Without worship and fasting, Paul might not have been sent out. The community in Antioch might have thought he was more useful at raising money and teaching them. Through prayer and the Holy Spirit they were led to a decision that might have been very difficult to make otherwise. They sent Paul out into the world to do mission work. I think the results speak for themselves. Paul, filled with the Spirit, spread the Gospel of Jesus to the other side of the known world.

I know that not all of my decisions are made with such pious thoroughness and to be honest, if they were I would have made fewer mistakes in my life. But one decision that was guided by the Spirit was to pursue life in the church - a life which led me to ordained ministry.

I think that the example of the early apostles and prophets in the church is one that we can learn from today, both in our lives and Christians in the world and in our lives as Christians in the church. Prayer, at home, in church, alone, or in groups is essential for discerning the will of God in our lives. Prayer and calling on the guidance of the Holy Spirit often leads us to accept the challenges in our lives that we might otherwise find impossible. What challenge or decision in our lives is awaiting you and me? Whatever it may be, I think that we are called to pray over and through the great decisions in our lives.