I don't know about you, but for years I read this verse with enthusiasm saying to myself: “wow, this is great, for the first time the Church is becoming intentional in sending people to fulfill Its Mission and to plant churches". However, I missed the implication as I was already watching the outcome to come, Paul's missionary journeys, the nations impacted, churches planted, and lives saved. Often it is the same in our lives, we fix our attention to the future on what God promises, the outcome we want to see, the expected blessing, etc. Because yes, God wants to use you for His kingdom to come, for lives to be changed and He wants to bless you.
Nevertheless there is an important aspect to remember… Here the Church of Antioch must have sent its best, Barnabas and Saul. but more than that, they were the pillars of the church in Antioch those who had been there from the beginning of the church to help it grow and become what it was. More than the best elements of the church, if Jesus is the cornerstone of the church, they were its foundations (cf. Acts 11: 25-26)… We could compare him today with the people of whom we do not. can't think of being able to do without. It could be the senior pastor, the youth leader, or someone else, take a moment to reflect on your situation.
They are the ones that the church has agreed to separate and release so that they can go and do what God has planned… We can understand the sacrifice that cost this church, they agreed to give their best, which was dear to them and certainly what they thought was essential. We can be thankful that they have agreed to do this, as Paul's ministry has been a catalyst for a church planting movement in Asia and Europe. We are still benefiting from this today. If our eyes are focused on the future to experience great things, we must remember that there is a price, a sacrifice to be made, knowing how to give our best ...
There can be no blessing without sacrifice… You want to experience a breakthrough, see the glory of God, there is a price to pay that of knowing how to give our best. It is a biblical principle that we already find in the Old Testament… Abel was blessed because he brought his firstfruits, his best (cf. Genesis 4: 1), the principle of the tithe, given his firstfruits, his best is the same (cf. Genesis 14:20), to give the firstborn of his flocks, the best and the future (cf. Leviticus 27:26), etc… God wants nothing but our best and knowing how to give it is to recognize our dependence on Him and to open the door to multiplication ...
Nothing is irreplaceable and no one is indispensable… God is in control and here it is important to note that it is not the church that sent Barnabas and Saul, it is the Holy Spirit. As the Church of Antioch set aside in fasting and prayer to dedicate itself to God, He spoke to introduce them into a new dimension ... In the same way we are invited to seek His Presence, to put our lives at His disposal to live more and more what He has prepared for us. By doing this, you can be sure that He will lead you, because He has so much more for your life than anything you can imagine ...
Are you ready to give your best? To give up what you think is essential? What is the Holy Spirit asking of you that you are resisting? I encourage you to let go and surrender everything to Him, give Him your best to receive from Him, for every excellent gift and every perfect gift come from above… Do not wait another moment to give Him everything and let yourself be surprised by what He is going to do!
God has blessed you richly so that you bless abundantly ...
Luke
English (UK) 
Français