Scripture: Acts 11:19-30 Click here for the reading
Observation: After many gentiles come to faith and Barnabas brings Saul (paul) back with him to Antioch, they then stay for an entire year immersing themselves in the lives of the new Christians (first use of this term in the new testament) there.
The ending of this scripture reveals that these Christians send gifts of money and resources back to Jerusalem for the established church there. They entrust their gifts to Paul and Barnabas because they have been with them that year. Immersion has built trust in relationship and revealing a generous God allowed them to trust the relationship with other Christians.
Application: When was the last time you handed over valuables to someone you barely knew? How about someone you knew very well? Imagine that these new Christians are exuberant in their faith of a generous God who has freed them from all of their sins, given them life eternal, and brought them into an authentic community where everything is shared. The fact they they responded to others needs in such a trusting way should be no surprise.
What keeps us from holding back? Have we lost that new faith exuberance? Gotten into a routine of scarcity over abundance?
Prayer: Lord keep us attentive to trusting you in all that we have an all that we do.
The ending of this scripture reveals that these Christians send gifts of money and resources back to Jerusalem for the established church there. They entrust their gifts to Paul and Barnabas because they have been with them that year. Immersion has built trust in relationship and revealing a generous God allowed them to trust the relationship with other Christians.
Application: When was the last time you handed over valuables to someone you barely knew? How about someone you knew very well? Imagine that these new Christians are exuberant in their faith of a generous God who has freed them from all of their sins, given them life eternal, and brought them into an authentic community where everything is shared. The fact they they responded to others needs in such a trusting way should be no surprise.
What keeps us from holding back? Have we lost that new faith exuberance? Gotten into a routine of scarcity over abundance?
Prayer: Lord keep us attentive to trusting you in all that we have an all that we do.
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