Thoughts on 260 Devotional: June 12, Acts 13

In this passage, worship, prayer and fasting are integrated into the selection and installation of Barnabas and Saul as missionaries.  Today worship and prayer are common in the ordination of pastors and installation of missionaries, but fasting is not.  Why has fasting been dropped from the preparation for these times of consecration? 

Worship: Expressing in words, music, rituals, and silent adoration the greatness, beauty, and goodness of God, by means of which we enter the supernatural reality of the glory, of God.
Prayer: Interactive conversation with God about what we and God are thinking and doing together. Therefore, there is talking and also the silently listening.
Fasting: The voluntary abstention from an otherwise normal function – most often eating – for the sake of intense spiritual activity. Other examples include websurfing, TV, favourite food, sports, etc.

Today is the opening day of the World Cup.  I believe World Cup is one of the biggest sport event of the world.  I relate today’s passage on the mission of Barnabas and Paul with the World Cup.  Paul and Barnabas travelled aboard had the mission of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentile nations.  All 31 teams except the host nation Brazil travelled aboard to proclaim the greatness in their nation’s soccer pride.   The players playing in the world cup could count on the prayer (literally) and fasting and inappropriately worship from fans in their home nation.  Paul and Barnabas relied on God’s grace through worship, they are confident that brothers and sisters were praying and fasting for them.

The work that Paul and Barnabas did was very demanding.  They were persecuted as their life were often threatened.  The work that the soccer players engaged in is physically and emotionally demanding.  The work that we are called to do as pastors, teachers, small group leaders, missionaries is physically, emotionally, and spiritually demanding.  

Why do may pastors, teachers, small group leaders, missionaries get burn out?  God is calling me to worship, prayer, and fasting for this season as there will be great challenges ahead.  I am challenged to pray for my brother Chun who commits to serve the LORD for 9 weeks leading children in the Ontario Pioneer camp.  Also, I am challenged to pray for Ernest and Steven who are serving for 9 weeks in the GCGC children camp.  

Please note that there are updated prayer requests from the English congregation.  We can count on you to pray and fast for us.