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"THEY WERE THERE AND WE ARE HERE" "And THERE THEY preached the gospel." (Acts 14:7) (caps mine)Now there's a little verse that's an easy one for Christians to memorize, but a difficult one to practice.The word THEY here in this verse is Paul and Barnabas who had been led by the Holy Spirit and sent with the support of the Church at Antioch. What THEY were doing was not something that requires a college education, or some unique talent.Nor is it the work only of Pastors, Evangelists, Deacons, or someone known far and wide who can talk with anyone anywhere about anything using an impressive vocabulary of pretty words while balancing a teacup and saucer on their knee. No, each one of us who follows the Lord as fishers of men are led and sent to give the Gospel to those who know not Christ.Another word I find interesting in this little verse is the word THERE. It says, "And THERE they preached the gospel." We immediately ask ourselves, “Where is THERE? What place is THERE referring to? Is it over THERE? Is it back THERE?”Well, the answer to that question is found when we read Acts 13 and 14. Paul and Barnabas had been forcibly expelled from Antioch in Pisidia (13:50), and when THEY left Iconium fleeing for their lives (14:5), THEY came to Lystra and Derbe (14:6), and we find what THEY did.... "And THERE THEY preached the gospel."(14:7) It really didn't make any difference to these men where THERE was, because THEY proclaimed the Gospel everywhere THEY went.I believe the picture the Holy Spirit painted for us to see in Act 14:7 is to be a consuming and burning desire on our part to proclaim the good news. No matter where THEY went, Paul and Barnabas announced the glad tidings of Jesus Christ THERE in every country and every city THEY had opportunity. THEY had their own THERE in the past, and WE have own HERE in the present.Friends, let's decide in 2024 to be like THEY in giving the good news to all, because no matter where we live, THERE is the HERE where the Lord placed us to be a witness to others that great truth from Heaven: "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." (John 3:17)