-November 8, 2023-
Good morning beloved, happy Wednesday,
“When he (Barnabas) 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.”
(Acts 11:23).
Barnabas was a great servant of Christ who won many souls to Christ and strengthened them in their walk with the Lord. His real name was Joses, but was affectionately and appropriately called Barnabas, meaning, “Son of Encouragement.” He sought out Paul in Tarsus and they formed a partnership in the Lord’s service. They were truly a dynamic duo for Christ.
They spent quite a bit of time in Antioch where the believers were first called Christians. They shared the same vision, burden, and passion for people. Acts 13:34 says, “Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.”’
Grace is one of the most vital virtues in the life of all believers. Grace is God’s unmerited favor. We are saved by grace, kept by grace, and we live by grace. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:10, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” He used the word grace three times in this verse, showing how important it is in our lives.
When Paul prayed three times that God would remove his thorn in the flesh, the Lord answered, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9a). Grace is like the air that we breathe, necessary for our spiritual survival. Let us then continue in it, trusting the Lord for His strength, guidance, and wisdom in all we do and say. We will then be victorious, overcomers, and more than conquerors through Christ who loves us. Christians don’t quit, give up, or give in—they just press on by the grace of God.
Have a blessed day living by and through His amazing grace. Stay safe and healthy.
By looking at the Savior’s face, we live our lives by the Savior’s grace,
Dean
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 