LIFE SCRIPTS

Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper. They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun.” Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.
Acts 13:1‭-‬12 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/act.13.1-12.NIV.

Among the group of believers, God set aside Barnabas and Saul for a specific purpose. Even today, God pinpoints people for works of service, for missions for engagement. Perhaps, he may use our vocations, our neighborhood or just His sovereignty to place us in different places to serve Him. Here, the two are sent to Cyprus, an island off the coast of Greece. There, they encounter opposition in the name of a sorcerer. BarJesus (as he used to be known) knew that the conversion of people around him meant less business. But the golden price was the proconsul who had employed him. If he turned to Christ, then he would be rendered irrelevant (not unless he also turned to Christ). When God sends us on assignments, He may choose not to remove obstacles around us. Just because we face opposition doesn’t mean that we’re not sent of Him. But when we do, He is there to guide us to victory. The proconsul called for the two but Bar Jesus tried to sabotage the event. So Saul met him face to face and passed judgement upon him. He became blind and groped for assistance. Years before, Saul had also turned blind and groped in darkness after the encounter with Christ on his way to Damascus. Such hard times have a way of pointing us towards God. When we are left helpless and out of strength or options, our only source of hope is in God. Saul was taken in by a disciple called Ananias who nurtured and helped him. But Elymas’ heart was so corrupted with evil, he refused to be repentant. The only way to minister to him was through such an act of depriving him of his sight. Perhaps, he could now ‘perceive’ that all power and authority comes from above. Isn’t this the case for us when we were walking in disobedience? We fall further and further into darkness. Sin holds us captive until we realize that we are helpless and need God.