“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1).

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Don't worry, I won't go back that far to set the context of today's verse. But God has had a plan from the beginning. A perfect, unchanging plan, centered on Jesus Christ, that offers salvation for all people. God's desire is for everyone to be saved. Sometimes it's good to be reminded of that.

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Fast forward to about 40 AD – the Apostle Paul and Barnabas are in Antioch, attending synagogue on the Sabbath. Antioch was a bustling city of 200 to 250 thousand people. Under Roman rule, it was a regional capital of Syria and located on major trade routes. Being inhabited by Jews and non-Jews (i.e. Gentiles), Antioch was a prominent place for Paul to teach the gospel. Ancient Antioch actually seems very similar to present day Anchorage.

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Paul's message on this day in this place was God's perfect plan. In Paul's time, there was confusion if God's plan of salvation also included the Gentiles, and Paul was trying to educate them. Starting in Acts 13:13 and continuing to v. 43, Paul gives a history lesson which the spiritually-hungry congregation finds so appealing that Paul is asked to teach again on the next Sabbath.

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In v. 44, we learn that on the next Sabbath almost the entire town comes to hear his message. To put this in perspective, imagine if almost the entire town of Anchorage went to church next Sunday to hear the gospel! As awesome as that sounds, there was a small but influential group of people who saw the crowd Paul brought forth and were “filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul was saying” (v. 45). Paul was teaching God's perfect plan, and yet there were severe objections by a prideful few who thought God's salvation should be only for them.

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Paul then specifically addresses this group in v. 46: “Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: ‘We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.’” Ouch! Paul then reminds them that this isn't a new teaching. To pound his point home, he speaks today's verse, which is a quote from Isaiah 49:6. The “you” in this verse is Jesus. Thus, Jesus is to bring salvation to the ends of the earth, meaning everyone, both Jew and Gentile. And since Jesus is God, that's been the plan since Genesis 1:1.

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So, after all this context, is there an application relevant to us today? To answer that, ask yourself this question: do my thoughts, words, and deeds honor God's plan of salvation for everyone?

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It's easy to wish that your friends are saved, but what about your enemies? Do you wish the same for them? Does your pride or jealousy create a barrier? This is an excellent opportunity to mature your faith. Come to the Lord in prayer. Listen for His response. Talk this over with a trusted accountability partner. What do you do well? What do you need to improve on? Rejoice and praise God for your successes. Confess to God your failures. Then repent and forgive yourself, for He most certainly does. Be encouraged by reading Psalm 103. And remember, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

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With Jesus as your example, you've been tapped by God to serve in growing His Kingdom. You've been part of God's perfect plan since Genesis 1:1. How awesome is that?

Lord, why is it so easy for me to love my friend but hate my enemy? Forgive me, Lord, for you created both in your image. Does not the rain fall on both? Do you not love both? Am I not called to be like you, Lord? I confess to you my pride, which is not of you, Lord. Thank you for forgiving me. Thank you also for my successes. Walk with me, Lord, and bless me with continued opportunities to share the Gospel in thought, word, and deed to the ends of the earth. Amen.