How can Acts 14:26 encourage us to complete our God-given tasks? Setting the Scene “From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.” — Acts 14:26 What the Verse Shows About Finishing Well • Paul and Barnabas return to the very church that first “commended” them, proving accountability matters. • Scripture calls their assignment “work,” reminding us that ministry is labor, not leisure. • Luke records that the work was “completed,” underscoring God’s expectation of completion, not mere initiation. • The grace of God both launched and sustained their mission; grace empowers every stage of obedience. Encouragements Drawn from the Passage • God-given tasks come with God-given grace. If He assigns, He supplies (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:9). • Completion brings testimony. Finishing allowed Paul and Barnabas to report God’s deeds (Acts 14:27). • Accountability inspires perseverance. Knowing fellow believers awaited their return spurred them on (Hebrews 10:24-25). • Finishing glorifies Christ. Jesus modeled it: “I have finished the work You gave Me to do” (John 17:4). • A completed task strengthens the church; Antioch’s faith was bolstered by their success (Philippians 1:6). Practical Steps to Help Us Finish Our Assignments 1. Identify the specific work God has commended to you—write it down. 2. Lean on grace daily through prayer and Scripture intake (Psalm 119:32). 3. Seek and submit to godly accountability—share progress with trusted believers (Proverbs 27:17). 4. Celebrate incremental milestones; thanksgiving fuels endurance (1 Thessalonians 5:18). 5. Keep the finish line in view: “Let us run with endurance the race set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus” (Hebrews 12:1-2). 6. When setbacks come, remember Paul’s hardships on this very journey (Acts 14:19-22); trials do not nullify the call. 7. Finish, then testify—reporting God’s faithfulness encourages others to obey their own callings (Revelation 12:11). A Final Word of Motivation Like Paul and Barnabas, we are commended to the grace of God. What He begins, He equips us to complete, so that we too can return and declare, “The work is done, and God has done it through us.” |
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