What Gets You Noticed?
Opening Prayer
Pray and thank God for accepting your praise and making you worthy to come into his holy presence now.
Read Acts 11:19-30
[19] Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. [20] Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. [21] The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. [22] News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. [23] When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. [24] He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. [25] Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, [26] and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. [27] During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. [28] One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) [29] The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea. [30] This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION
Reflect
What good service(s) did Barnabas give to these churches?This story shows God active among his followers, helping those who faithfully witness (21,22) and speaking through prophets by his Spirit (28). Saul reappears, sought out by Barnabas, the friend who helped him before (9:27). They spend a whole year with the new believers establishing them firmly in the faith (26). We don’t know what brought about their name “Christians” (26). It could have been Saul’s teaching which, from the start, had referred to Jesus as the Messiah (meaning in Greek, the Christ). Or the name may have been a form of mockery by Gentile non-believers. Whatever its origin, the believers in Antioch certainly lived up to their new name of “Christ-in” them. Their immediate response to the threat of famine was to show Christ’s love by deciding to give to others in potential need. We should be proud to bear the name of Christ, to be called Christians. But with the name comes the responsibility to do as Jesus did, to willingly share his servant attitude on this earth, and to share his glory for eternity.
Apply
Ask God to show you today how you can honor his name through your sacrificial obedience and service to others.
Closing prayer
Lord Jesus, help me to share Your humble servant attitude and to bear Your name to bring You glory.
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Discovery is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.