SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1128

“Barnabas was Glad”

When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose… – Acts 11:23

We all know the classic definition of God’s Grace to be His free and unmerited favor toward mankind. But what does it look like? What is the evidence of grace that Barnabas saw that made him glad?

After Stephen was martyred, the disciples dispersed to escape persecution. Some preached the Word to the Greeks in Antioch and the Lord poured out His saving grace.

But there were some of them…who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. – Acts 11:20-21

The report of what was happening in Antioch came to Jerusalem and they sent Barnabas to investigate. Antioch is where the disciples were first called ‘Christians’ and what Barnabas saw there made him glad. We profess to be Christians. The term means that we are followers of Jesus, living in a Christ like manner. If Barnabas were to visit with us today, would he be glad?

Barnabas would have to visit us outside of our church context where we wear our Sunday best and put on our church smiles. Barnabas would have to see us in the brutal context of the world to see evidence of grace. What would make him glad would be to see that we do not just go to church but rather that we are the church by the gift of the grace of God.

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: – 1 Peter 4:10

Visible evidence of grace would show us to be slow to anger, more caring and less judgmental. If Barnabas were to ride share with us during rush hour and tag along in our place of work would he be glad?

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. – James 1:19; 1 Corinthians 10:24

As born-again believers, professing Christians, we are ‘boots on the ground’ ambassadors for Christ in the reality of a fallen world desperately in need of salvation. The grace of God evident in our life is seen when we allow the light of Jesus to shine in this dark world by remaining people of integrity with respect to our Christian character in the face and near occasion to follow the crowd in sin.

We were saved by grace. We must not stop there. We need to continue to grow, stand and live lives of grace upon grace upon grace.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ;  For by grace you have been saved through faith; continue in the grace of God; Stand firm in it – 2 Peter 3:18– Ephesians 2:8-9– Acts 13:43– 1 Peter 5:10-12

May God’s grace be evident in your life, May His grace flow in and through you to draw those who need saving grace to come to Christ.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen. – Galatians 6:18