Two days ago, my grandparents took their time to turn their IDs at the airport counter to receive a permission to enter the small airport to be with me, waiting at Gate 7 until people started lining up to go on board the plane. 3 months ago, the NICA team arrived Nicaragua aiport to find Matt and Eva Barlow waiting among the crowd, waving at us when we arrived to welcome us! Less than 2,000 years ago, the families, including children, went on their journey to be with Paul and his team until they "were outside the city. And kneeling down on the beach, we prayed and said farewell to one another. Then we [Paul and the team] went on board the ship, and they [close-knitted families] returned home."
I was disappointed when the Bible didn't describe how Paul and his team felt when those families knelt with them to pray with them and see them depart! I bet they felt encouraged and energized like I did! But let's look at the opposing effect, those people who urged Paul and his team not to go. Paul said, "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." Because those people didn't support Paul and his team like the other close-knitted families, they broke Paul's heart!
Do we want to be like those close-knitted families who knelt and pray with the team or be like those people who worried about the team? Do we want to build them up by our courage or tear them down by our fear? Do we kneel and pray with our sisters and brothers when they depart and greet them when they return? Well, let's take time to energize one another to do a ministry of reconciliation 24/7!
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