Read Acts 11 – “And since God gave these Gentiles the same gifts He gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to stand in God’s way?” 11:17. Beloved, don’t hold back. Jesus is for everyone. Don’t let someone’s upbringing or way of life make you refrain from sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. No one is outside of His reach.
Next we see more of the good fruit Jesus is bringing from Stephen’s martyrdom, as the Gospel is spread by the scattered believers to the regions of Phoenicia, Cypress and Antioch of Syria. Beloved, God never wastes a hurt!
Barnabas… I would very much like to be friends with him based on what Scripture says. He was quick to joy. He sought out Paul (This is about a decade after Paul’s conversion), and they began teaching together back in Antioch for a full year. He is called ‘a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith’(:24).
God’s Word mentions that the believers were first called Christians at Antioch(:26). It was meant as a derogatory insult, but I am honored to be one, as they were.
Beloved, do you get a sense as to how alive the church was in Antioch? It is vibrant with faith, unity and a hunger to know Jesus more and more. Do you get that in your church? Why don’t you start with you and see what the Holy Spirit does with it from there? Show up eager, full of faith and joy, like Barnabas and Paul. 😃😍💘🙏💘😍😃
Judy in the Sky 