Deep Roots

On this first week of December, I am beginning to read through Galatians, Ephesians, and Philippians. This is not the usual Christmas or Advent reading, I know, but I feel it provides a good balance to those familiar Christmas stories. God's plan is bigger than Bethlehem. Paul's writings help keep me grounded in the bigger plan that God is accomplishing through the Incarnation, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection.

So in Galatians 1 to 4 this week, I was struck by Galatians 2:1 this morning. Paul is giving the testimony of how he came to know Jesus as the Messiah. If we remember the stories from the Book of Acts, it is easy to assume that Paul became a missionary church-planter almost immediately after his conversion. But in Galatians 2, he describes how this was not so. After his conversion, he withdrew into the desert of Arabia and then went back to Damascus (where he had encountered the Risen Christ). This was an interval of nearly 3 years. No doubt, he was having to do a complete reevaluation of his theology in light of his encounter with Jesus. After three years, he went to Jerusalem and met with Peter and James, and then he went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. He lived and worked there for more than ten years before returning to Jerusalem.

Piecing his story together from Acts and his other writings we can assume that about a year prior to his return to Jerusalem, Paul had been recruited by Barnabas to come to Antioch and minister there. In Antioch, the church commissioned Paul and Barnabas to spread the gospel throughout the Roman Empire. Thus Paul and Barnabas embarked on what has become known as their First Missionary Journey.

Consider the timing of this. This is not an immediate work after Paul's conversion. There are three years of reconsideration. Then there is an additional decade or so of life, work, and local church ministry.

Only then does God call Paul to engage in that activity for which he will become best known.

It takes time for God to develop within us the qualities and characteristics that he desires. It takes time for God to nurture and cultivate us until we are capable of withstanding the storms of life or bearing much fruit. God gives us deep roots.

Are we allowing God to do a preparatory and maturing work in us? Are we seeking to be faithful in the little things, the local things, the interior, spiritual, growing-in-knowledge-and-wisdom kind of things?

Father prepare our hearts, our minds, and our spirits throughout this season to receive and respond to your grace and your leadership! Amen