A debate raged in my mind as to whether or not I should do one more message related to Paul and Barnabas’ first missionary journey. I realize that most of the people in our audience are not full time missionaries. However, I think there are some very practical truths in this part of their story we can all relate to, and benefit from.
If you were to look at a map of their travel plans, you would see that Paul and Barnabas retraced most of their steps. They returned to the cities of Lystra, Iconium, and Pisidian Antioch for the purpose of strengthening and encouraging the people who had recently become Christians. But when they got back to the Mediterranean, they sailed straight home (Acts 14:26). They did not return to the island of Cyprus. It was the only location they hit on the way out that they didn’t stop at on the way home.
Which begs the question, why? We’re not told, but we can make some reasonable assumptions. It might have been that the logistics simply didn’t work out. Perhaps they found a ship sailing for Syria, but not one sailing to Cyprus. Maybe they preferred to sail “non-stop” vs. having a layover in Cyprus. Or maybe it was an indication of a lack of new believers on the island. From what is recorded about their time on Cyprus, there was but a single convert, Sergius Paullus, the Roman proconsul.
Here’s my point. We all have limited resources. There is only so much time and money at our disposal. We cannot invest in everything and everybody. This small detail in Paul’s itinerary reminds us that it is OK (even necessary) to spend our resources where there will be the largest return for the Kingdom.
Chuck Swindoll once wrote, “You cannot do it all. You can’t get your arms around the vast boundaries of your city or your entire state. No one can! But you are able to touch those who come into the scope of your influence. Peace of mind comes in knowing that in at least their lives, your touch can make a difference, even if it is only one here and another there.”
Don’t allow what you cannot do keep you from doing what you can. –Dave
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)
(To receive these free daily devotions via email, subscribe here. You may listen to The Teachable Heart Podcast on Spotify, Pocket Casts, Podchaser, or Audible. For more information about the ministry, or to order the devotional books, visit: https://theteachableheart.com/books.)
The Teachable Heart blog 