Evidence

Acts 11

22  News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.

23 When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, 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.

 

I read this passage of scripture and hoped that it would be true of us... of me.

 

The message of Christ is spreading to Jews and Gentiles and a "great number" have come to faith in Jesus.  But, that's not what I am praying for for this Sunday (don't misunderstand, a "great number" of people being brought to faith would be a blessing).

 

I'm thinking right now of the line in the 23rd verse, "saw the evidence of the grace of God."

 

What is that?  What does it look like?  What is the proof of God's touch?  What did Barnabas see in those people that he might not have seen in others?

 

People go south and see the evidence of a hurricane.  Hunters go to the woods and find the evidence of deer.  Investigators check out a crime scene and look for the evidence of a perpetrator.  I had an m.r.i. done so the neurologist could look for evidence of a brain (I have copies of the scans - I have one).

 

What is the evidence of the grace of God?

 

Whole relationships.

Changed patterns.

Sins vanished.

Bodies and souls healed.

Visible joy.

Passion.

Gratitude.

 

Go ahead, have some fun in your mind.  What is the evidence of the grace of God?  The point is not to live the list, it's to receive the grace so that the list is the by-product.

 

What would Barnabas see if he walked in on us?

 

Thinking,

Pastor Dave