Lone Ranger

While it’s good for us to strive to fulfill our passions it is so important that we spend time encouraging those around us so that they too may fulfill their passion.

Acts 18.18-28

Reference: v.23  After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. (NIV Bible)

Explore: I always pictured Paul as a bit of a lone ranger.  He was so incredibly passionate about what he did I thought that would become extremely intense for anyone who was around him for long periods of time.  Of course, he had his partners along the way but they often changed as well.  He was so full-on and often confronting that I wondered whether he felt lonely at times.
However, in this passage we hear that he ‘strengthened all the disciples’.  It seems that while he was pretty hard core in speaking out to the Jews and Gentiles by trying to convince them to believe in Jesus, he was also inspiring and encouraging towards those who already believed.

Application: Our passion will drive us to do great things.  If we are fulfilling our passions then we have the energy and the drive to overcome many challenges and complete many accomplishments.  However our drivenness can often push others aside and our intensity can set us apart from our support groups.
Just as Paul took time out in his evangelistic mission to strengthen his fellow believers, we too must take time to build up those who surround us.  While we need to continue to strive to fulfill our passions- whatever our God-given gifts may be- it is so important that we spend time with fellow colleagues/friends/believers and encourage them so they, too, can fulfill their passion.

Prayer: Lord, often we have such tunnel vision towards a goal that we forget to care about people along the way.  Help us to stay focussed on our passion but not lose sight of those who love and support us.  Amen.

Acts