Galatians 2:1 (NKJV) 2 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus with me.
14 years!
In the verse above, Paul is telling about his travels and the works that he did to plant and grow churches in the early New Testament days.
Let’s look at one little part of this verse that has nothing to do with Paul’s topic of discussion; 14 years.
As Paul tells of his discussions with other leaders, he mentions various periods of time for his visits and his travels. Sometimes it’s days. Sometimes it’s months. Other times it’s years.
Most times you and I tend to read right through these numbers and pay little attention to them. But as I read this passage last night, it struck me that Paul specifically mentioned that 14 years had passed between his visits to Jerusalem. That’s a long time!
So what’s the point in this devotional? Why focus on 14 years and not on Paul’s topic of discussion?
Because that 14 years says a lot!
From the day of Paul’s encounter with Jesus and then his subsequent conversion, he spent his life traveling, teaching, overseeing and growing the body of Christ. He traveled for years on end and worked tirelessly, despite being beaten for preaching the gospel, shipwrecked multiple times and even stoned and left for dead. And all of this because of his faith!
But let’s look at ourselves. So many times we ask God for something. And then when a few weeks has passed, we throw our hands up in the air because we don’t have our answer yet. Or, better stated, we didn’t get the answer we were looking for in the time frame that we wanted it in.
But let’s remember Paul. He didn’t give up if he didn’t see the results he was looking for right away. He didn’t rely on his understanding of things based on carnal knowledge, intellect and human logic. He listened to the Holy Spirit and let God lead Him in everything.
So let that 14 years help us to put things into proper perspective. God moves in the timing that He does because He sees the big picture and has infinite understanding. While we have limited vision and finite understanding.
His understanding is always better than ours.
Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie
Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808
401-315-0902
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