PEACE-MAKING
Opening Prayer
Thank you, Father, for all you have done in my life; show me today what I can do for you.
Read ACTS 9:19b–31
19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem
Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
23 After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, 24 but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 25 But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.
26 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews,[a] but they tried to kill him. 30 When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
Footnotes
- Acts 9:29 That is, Jews who had adopted the Greek language and culture
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Sit quietly for a few moments and allow God to speak to you of his presence and his power.Traveling with a Lutheran minister, I visited an eastern European country a few months after the end of the Communist regime to work with an emerging Scripture Union movement. I returned home eighteen months later. Preaching in a church of a different denomination, I was surprised and moved to find my traveling friend in the congregation. He told me that it was the first time he had worshipped in a congregation other than his own, explaining that any stranger was considered a potential government agent.
The church in Jerusalem felt much the same about Paul. Despite his eloquent and powerful arguments that Jesus was the Son of God (v. 20) and the promised Messiah (v. 22), they could not forget that he was the one who had so violently persecuted them. Their fear and suspicion were perfectly natural. But maybe they doubted the power of God to change even the most hardened opponent. Church is not always easy. There will sometimes be misunderstanding, tension, and disagreement. New people may not always fit in. This is why we need people like Barnabas (v.27): gentle, compassionate people. People with the wisdom and the sensitivity to see what God is doing and to speak out. People who see the best in others.
Apply
Are there places in your church assembly where there is lack of agreement, whatever the reason? Are there ways in which you can be a peacemaker?
Closing prayer
Jesus, as I seek to exhibit more and more of the fruit of the Spirit, help me to be more like Barnabas, ready to welcome and advocate for those needing acceptance.
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