Acts 11:19-30
Reflect
This passage continues in the wave of the Holy Spirit sweeping across the land. Jews and non-Jews have begun to follow Jesus!
One verse really stopped me in my tracks. Soak in v.23. How did Barnabas see the grace of God that made him so glad?
I’ll suggest two things revealed God’s grace:
The first is evident in verses 19 and 20. See it? They scattered because of harsh persecution, and that struggle resulted in even more fervent preaching. God’s grace causes gladness when the pain that we experience results in the lost being drawn to our hope in Jesus. Woven throughout Scripture and church history, two things are constant. God’s people suffer, and His suffering servants glorify the Lord as they share their faith. God takes the worst of what we navigate through, and turns it into really good news.
The second thing that reveals God’s grace is that Barnabas “saw the grace of God”. He did not just hear the grace. He saw it! He saw it as Jesus’ followers, everyone to their ability, gave of what they had to aid those that were struggling. We know that the church served lepers, orphans, prisoners, and anyone else the culture pushed to the fringe. When we follow Jesus ”to the least of these”, all of heaven is glad.
Apply
How will you live today in order to say, “I saw the grace of God, and it made me glad”?
Pastor Dan
Pray
- Pray for our Prime Minister and Premier, Mayor Sohi, your MP, your MLA, and any other government officials God brings to your mind.
- Pray for Dave Schneider, our Youth and Worship Pastor and Erin Gibbard, Youth Ministry Associate.
- Pray for all our small group leaders.