God’s Grace At Work

GOD’S GRACE AT WORK

a prayer to open

Holy Spirit, come. Center my heart.

Fill my mind. Guide my steps.

The believers who had been scattered during the persecution after Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria. They preached the word of God, but only to Jews. However, some of the believers who went to Antioch from Cyprus and Cyrene began preaching to the Gentiles about the Lord Jesus. The power of the Lord was with them, and a large number of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord.

When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw this evidence of God’s blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord. Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many people were brought to the Lord.

Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul. When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. . . .

During this time some prophets traveled from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them named Agabus stood up in one of the meetings and predicted by the Spirit that a great famine was coming upon the entire Roman world. (This was fulfilled during the reign of Claudius.) So the believers in Antioch decided to send relief to the brothers and sisters in Judea, everyone giving as much as they could. This they did, entrusting their gifts to Barnabas and Saul to take to the elders of the church in Jerusalem.

Barnabas means “Son of Encouragement” (see Acts 4:36), and in the city of Antioch, we see Barnabas live up to his name. Often we fail to encourage others because we are jealous of their success, how we see God working in them, or the gifts and skills they have been given. Sometimes we fail to encourage others just because we are self-focused and forget how helpful it can be to affirm someone during good times or to lift them up during difficult times. Barnabas had certain character traits that allowed him to be an encourager: He was able to see God’s grace at work, seeing God’s grace made him glad, and he was full of faith.

• Read this passage again. What word or phrase stands out to you? Sit quietly, reminding yourself that you are in God’s loving presence, and ask him to show you how that word or phrase connects to your life.
• How would you grade yourself as an encourager? What do you think stops you from encouraging others more often?
• Who is your biggest encourager, bringing you affirmation when God is at work in you or reassurance during difficulty? Call that person to say thanks and share why his or her encouragement has mattered to you.

Father, thank you for all the ways your grace is at work in this world. So often my eyes see only despair and brokenness. Allow me to catch glimpses of your Kingdom in my family interactions, my workplace relationships, and everyday kindnesses. Remind me of your abundance, and banish the envy that stops me from encouraging others. May your grace always fill me with joy, and may your Spirit be evident in me as I seek to point those I encounter to you. Amen.