From Zero to Hero, and From Hero to Zero

But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze on him, and said, "You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to make crooked the straight ways of the Lord?   Now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and not see the sun for a time." And immediately a mist and a darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking those who would lead him by the hand.   Then the proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord.   Now Paul and his companions put out to sea from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia; but John left them and returned to Jerusalem. (Acts 13:9-13 NASB)

Until this time, the character of Saul has followed everyone else in lists.  He was listed with impressive people, but while fade into obscurity, his name changes and suddenly everyone's hanging around him.  The timing is before a Roman proconsul with the same name, Paul, and as Saul/Paul confronts a false prophet.  From then on his name is Paul.

But the change is without fanfare or comment on the change.  Saul aka Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, gazes at the false prophet.  There's no comment on the connection between the names (it seems to be euphonic only). The companions of Paul travel from Paphos to Perga.  There's no explanation of why Barnabas is no longer taking point, or why it's not "Paul and Barnabas" at this point.  Paul seems to have eclipsed everyone.

I notice a few things here that I find interesting.  First off, there's no record that Barnabas has a problem with this.  This guy has been a true encouragement all along, and now he sees a "protege" of his taking flight.  Well, something like that perhaps.  For whatever reason, it seems that he is willing to relent, to give up that prime position without a fuss.  It may not have even been an issue really, just felt like a natural progression.  But does it mean anything that Barnabas is from Cyprus; that he sells a field from there?  It doesn't seem to.

I suppose that these changes that my Master brings about are to be acceptable to me as well.  Like Barnabas, I should be willing to take a one-down on issues, be willing to fade into the background.  This week I have had to eat a bit of crow, and I have to admit, I didn't like the taste.  The way I could have avoided it was to just let things be, or at least ask around before assuming I knew what was happening.  I was prideful and in a hurry.  Barnabas does not seem burdened with that problem.  He's not really in a hurry, and he does not seem prideful.

I mention this because I believe that my Master has given me both the gift and the task of encouragement.  I am constantly amazed at how ineffective such a gift is when I full of myself.  It actually works in reverse and I discourage.  So I myself am naturally discouraging, but my Master has gifted me in an area I am naturally weak and given me the job of encouraging.  So, like Barnabas, I am to be an encourager.  Like Barnabas, I am supposed to build people up.  But like Barnabas, that's not going to happen if I don't take the time to shed my pride and take time to be present with those I am called to encourage. 

If I want to stand back and watch a "Paul" emerge onto the stage, I have to be willing to stand back.  But even before that, I have to be willing to go through the transition from leading and guiding to following and supporting.  If I'm not willing to do that, I'm never going to see what my Master will do with the amazing people with whom I serve.  I have to be willing to go from zero to hero, but also from hero to zero.  It must be my Master who designates who and for how long he makes the hero.  It is my job to submit to His designation for however long He designates.

Pardon me, I think I heard the oven ding.  My humble pie must be finished.  Gotta go, it's breakfast.

So Much Detail, So Little Land

"My lord, listen to me; a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver, what is that between me and you? So bury your dead."  Abraham listened to Ephron; and Abraham weighed out for Ephron the silver which he had named in the hearing of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, commercial standard.  So Ephron's field, which was in Machpelah, which faced Mamre, the field and cave which was in it, and all the trees which were in the field, that were within all the confines of its border, were deeded over to Abraham for a possession in the presence of the sons of Heth, before all who went in at the gate of his city. (Genesis 23:15-18 NASB)

Abraham has servants and animals, all of which he bought, but we are never given the details of the transaction.  When Abraham intercedes for Sodom there is about as much detail as here.  Yet in other places where interaction with the people of the land had to happen, we're not.  Mamre and his two brothers had to be notified that Abraham was taking 318 from his household to track down the Four Kings of the East, we're not told how or what was said.  So why such detail now?

This chapter represents one of those passages that puts most faithful followers of Jesus asleep.  It's repetitive, monotonous, but mostly, it's viewed as pointless.  The question, "so what" just seems unanswered.  The part that bothers me is that my Master made sure this piece made it into the story, and that it remained, preserved for thousands of years.  The question for me is not "so what", but "why this piece?"  I'm not concerned with the point of the author or editor, but the point of my Master.

I do have an opinion, untested (I'm not sure how I would test it really) so just an opinion.  I think this passage may represent, in a tangible form, the beginning of the fulfillment of the promise of God to Abraham.  This represents the first of the land to be possessed by Abraham (and therefore, his descendants).  It's not much, just a field with a cave, and the surrounding trees (shade for the tents?).  Yet it represents for God's chosen people a deposit on what is to come. 

So, what point does my opinion have for me now, some four thousand years later?  It can still be asked, "so what", so...what?  Well, the lesson I take away from this passage's inclusion in the story is that God will sometime accommodate our desire to see what He has promised for later.  I don't think this encouragement is necessarily for Abraham except perhaps upon reflection later.  I think that this encouragement if for those who read this later.  As Israel's history plays out for the next few millennia, this passage will stand as an example of their true Lord and Master making good on the promise of land, their land, to His chosen ones.

For me, I see that my Master will sometimes accommodate my desire to see something of what He has in mind or has promised.  Right now, in this place, there are elements of His people assembled by Him for something.  I don't know what that "something" is at this point, but He has something in His mind.  I would love to have a glimpse of what that will be.  I would love to catch a vision for what He has in the works.  But at this point, He has seen fit to give that glimpse to others.  That's fine, because through them, I gain some sort of glimpse as over the shoulders of someone else or through their account of it.  I perceive a need for something for the young people of this place.  Perhaps that is what He's up to.  The glimpse hasn't become that clear to me yet.  Maybe I need the lens of a few more of His people. 

The Perspective With The Destination In View

"Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you." (John 14:1-2 NASB)

The comforting words of Jesus to His troubled disciples help me with a view of my Master.  He didn't tell them they wouldn't go through the next 72 hours without problems or sadness.  He didn't tell them that it was really enjoyable, they just weren't seeing it right.  Jesus Himself wasn't looking forward to it.  Instead, Jesus seeks to give them perspective.  I need that; desperately.

It's really easy for me to get caught up in the moment and the circumstances around me.  My bank account and bills not working out like I want haunt me.  The things I think are good that I want to do, my Master doesn't enable me to do.  I see people around me I care for suffering or under stress that I am powerless to do anything to fix.  And what I need in these times is perspective.

I attend a church called Journey Community.  Often in this culture it's popular to focus on life as a "journey" and try and ignore the "destination".  "It's not the hill, it's the climb" or other cliche is used to downplay the destination in favor of the journey.  Perhaps the cliche "the ends justify the means" has been abused to the point that the pendulum has swung absurdly far in the other direction.  But a journey has to have a destination to make sense.  Journey Community sees this, or tries to; but it's often difficult.

So where is my destination?  Jesus encourages His disciples with , "in My Father's house are many dwelling places," and I like that perspective.  In the Greek, the word for "dwelling place" is rather rare in Scripture, only being used in this chapter of John, and only twice.  It is a more "generic" term for a place to live than "house".  It's as if it could refer to any place used to live, but I like to think of it as the difference between a "house" and a "home".  Almost any thing can be a home with the right elements; a house isn't necessarily one of those required elements.

"In My Father's house are many dwelling places," means that I am headed home.  I'm not there yet, but I am headed that way.  This passage also includes Jesus telling His disciples that they know the way there already.  They're confused by this, but He clarifies to say, "I am the way, the truth, and the life."  So, the way has been laid out before me.  Jesus is the "Bread of Life" sustaining me on the journey home.  He is the Light that illuminates where I walk on the journey home.  He is the Door through Whom I pass to get on the journey home.  And He is the Way, the True Way I follow, and the Life I hope for when I reach there.

Why is it that my perspective gets so stunted that I can't see beyond my current difficulties?  When I look at these same circumstances in the context of the destination I head toward, they look very different.  They don't go away; Jesus' disciples didn't avoid the pain and sorrow of the following 72 hours, but after the fact, they saw those hours differently.  I need the perspective of my Master so I can see my circumstances from His perspective, and enjoy the joy of expectant hope; hope in the destination, my Father's house with many dwelling places.  Some of those are for me and my house.