"Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus with me. And I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain."
moving by revelation
Paul says he went up
to Jerusalem because of revelation. We
can’t know for certain what form that took.
It could have been a personal revelation like what Peter experienced (Acts
10), or it could
have been one that came to the group of
believers (Acts 13:2),
or one that came by a prophet (Acts 11:27-30). What we do know, is that Paul responded to the revelation.
In the parable of
the talents, Jesus illustrates how being faithful in the little things
positions one to become faithful in much greater things. (Luke
19:17) In this part of Galatians, the word ‘revelation’ has the
connotation of an unveiling of supernatural origin. Have you ever experienced an “unveiling of
supernatural origin”? The Bible is the communication of the will of God, so wouldn’t
it fit in this category? I believe so.
The question now is,
am I faithful to the revelation I have received thus far? Am I seeking more, above and beyond, when I
haven’t been faithful with the bits I already hold? It seems that when Paul received the
revelation, he packed his bags and went, using the opportunity for the gospel
of Jesus. We need to do the same,
whether physically, or figuratively, we need to act on the revelation we have.
I have struggled off
and on with worry. Has God given
revelation about that? Of course He
has! I need to pack in the Truth on
this, and travel to a place of trust. I
have also struggled with insecurity. It
is time to grab hold of His Truth—His amazing grace, and move over to confidence
in His love for me in spite of my many failures and imperfections. How about you? Where are you currently residing? Based on the fruits in your life, and on the
truth revealed in Scripture, are you where God wants you? If not, are you willing to act on that
revelation, pack in the Truth, and make the journey?
When I have been
willing to act on it, there has always been good fruit and reward, even if at
times it has been very hard. Paul
encountered some great challenges that put his faithfulness and his trust in a
gospel of grace right on the line. He
stood firm, not in his own ability or accomplishments, but in the completeness
of the loving work of Jesus. I pray God
will empower me, and each of you, to do the same.
Read and Pray: Proverbs 29:18,
Matthew 16:15-17,Acts 17:24-31, Ephesians 1:15-21
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