GRACE RECOGNIZES GRACE
Acts 11:23-24 NKJV
When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.
These verses are part of the story of a man named Barnabas. He was an early leader in the church who had come to faith in Christ and was a blessing to the church. Barnabas was actually his nickname, which meant son of encouragement. He was a Levite from Cyprus who had some land and sold it and donated all the proceeds to the church. His nickname and his giving tell us something of his character. Barnabas was a class act. It was Barnabas who believed Paul after he was converted in Damascus. Barnabas, that took Paul to the church in Jerusalem and convinced them to accept Paul’s salvation story.
So it was Barnabas that the disciples sent to Antioch when they heard that the message of Jesus was spreading to the Hellenists. When the church was scattered, some of the Jews who left Jerusalem preached to the Hellenists, and the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number turned to the Lord. It’s a good thing that they sent Barnabas. He was a man who believed in people. A man with a lot of grace in his life for others. And when he came to Antioch and saw the grace of God, he was glad.
Barnabas, a man of grace, recognized God’s grace and was glad. He was able to look past the legalism of many Jewish believers. He had heard Peter’s testimony of God reaching the Gentiles with a message of salvation. Barnabas was a man with a big heart for God and people. He was exactly the right man for the moment. Instead of raising doubts about the salvation of non-Jewish people, Barnabas encouraged the people to continue with the Lord. Verse twenty-four summed up Barnabas well. “For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.” I have always appreciated the wording of that verse. The verse did not say that Barnabas was an amazing preacher or teacher. The verse said he was a good man. And full of the Holy Spirit and faith. Those are great character qualities. A great many people were added to the Lord. Not to the church, to the Lord. When people receive the Lord, they become connected to Him. It’s good to be part of a church, but first be connected to the Lord Jesus.
APPLICATION
A man who had been touched and changed by God’s grace recognized God’s grace in others. Barnabas had an ear to hear what God was saying and eyes that could see God working. So he brought encouragement to the church.
I would like it said of me that I am a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith. And that a great many people are being added to the Lord. That is a great goal to shoot for. It’s a goal that applies to more than preachers. We can all be good in our character. We can all be full of the Holy Spirit and faith. And we all can have a part of seeing many people added to the Lord.
PRAYER
Thank You, Lord, for Your grace in my life. Thank You for people like Barnabas that add value to people and add people to the Lord. Help me to grow in grace and faith and be full of Your Spirit and goodness.