He’s Been Everywhere

Acts 14:19-28

How does this sound as an itinerary? “The next day (Paul) went on with Barnabas to Derbe. After they had proclaimed the good news to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, then on to Iconium and Antioch…Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. From there they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had completed” (Portions of Acts 14:20b-26). Names of cities are flying around in this passage almost as fast as they do in the old Johnny Cash song, “I’ve Been Everywhere.” In it Cash sings,

I've been to:

Louisville, Nashville, Knoxville, Ombabika,

Schefferville, Jacksonville, Waterville, Costa Rica,

Pittsfield, Springfield, Bakersfield, Shreveport,

Hackensack, Cadillac, Fond du Lac, Davenport,

Idaho, Jellico, Argentina, Diamantina,

Pasadena, Catalina, see what I mean-a.

While Cash’s song is lots of fun, we need to recognize the significance of the reading from Acts. The sort of evangelism in which Paul is engaged is not for the faint of heart nor for the weak of spirit. It is grueling work demanding nearly tireless efforts, boundless energy, and, yes, the willingness to move about. Paul might have found a comfortable spot somewhere under a tree beside a river and waited for folks to come by, but instead he went (nearly) everywhere in order to find those in need of grace and to call them to believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Not all of us have that kind of energy or drive, not all of us are able to travel so extensively, but for those who are so blessed the ministry of evangelism is, in many ways, its own reward for it allows people of faith to see, firsthand, the gospel at work in ways that may not be imaginable otherwise.

So thanks be to God for those who are willing to travel and to witness and to share their faith with others. And may each of us find our own way to serve God.

Prayer: God of energy and movement, help us to serve you in whatever way you need us, but always according to your will. In Jesus’ name. Amen.