SON OF ENCOURAGEMENT

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BARNABAS

Read Acts 11:19–30, 12:24–13:3

They sent Barnabas to Antioch. 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. Acts 11:22-23 NIV

* * *

Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, received a new Christian name from the apostles. They called him Barnabas, which means "Son of Encouragement." He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord through his ministry. (11:24)

* * *

Barnabas went to Tarsus to find Saul, and brought him to Antioch, where the two of them ministered for a year. In later years Saul, also called Paul, would write of Barnabas and his cousin John Mark, saying "They have proved to be a comfort to me." (Colossians 4:11)

* * *

Barnabas possessed the gifts of encouragement and discernment. He was quick to recognize the Spirit of the Lord in a new believer and slow to write him off when he failed. His cousin John Mark ran away during a time of persecution, but later rejoined Barnabas in powerful ministry.

* * *

Lord, help me to be an encourager like Barnabas. Grant me the wisdom to teach our children how to encourage each other as well. As with Barnabas, fill us with the Holy Spirit and faith so that we can encourage other Christians to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. (11:23-24)

* * *

The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. Acts 11:26 NIV

WISE MEN STILL SEEK HIM

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THE WISE MEN AND HEROD

Read Matthew 2:1–12 & Micah 5:2

     When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: Matthew 2:4–5 NIV

* * *

     Long before Jesus was born, the prophets had predicted His coming. The priests and rabbis knew that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem because of a prophesy they related to Herod and the wise men. We know that even the common people were taught this prophesy, since later–when Jesus started His ministry–the people said, "How can the Christ come from Galilee? Does not the Scripture say that the Christ will come from David's family and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?" (John 7:41b-42)

     The people must not have realized that He was born in Bethlehem at the time of the census. The Jews of Jesus time really had no excuse for not recognizing their Messiah. Had they truly been looking for Him, they would have known who He was–just as the Wise Men and even Herod did.

* * *

     Lord, I praise You for the reliability of Your Word. Help me to be willing to share the message of Your coming with my children, their friends and all who might be seeking for truth. As the Christmas cards say, "Wise men still seek Him."

* * *

     "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."   Matthew 2:2 NIV

TIDINGS OF JOY

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THE SHEPHERDS

Read Luke 2:8–20

"Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:10–11 NKJV

* * *

Exhausted but happy, Joseph wraps his newborn babe in swaddling clothes and lays him at Mary's side. They are alone, in the city of their birth, but not their home. Only the sound of animals disturbs their quiet conversation. What will life be like with this child of God? Soon they will be able to consummate their marriage and build a family together.

Meanwhile, out in the nearby fields, a lowly group of shepherds are in for a big surprise. Suddenly an angel appears in the night sky surrounded by the glory of the Lord. He announces, “There is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:11 NKJV) Lonely quiet places - this stable - those fields - where all of history would be changed. Even today we date our lives from this event.

* * *

Lord, help me to value the lonely, quiet moments of my life. They are so few and yet so valuable. Speak to my heart this morning with words of peace. Like Mary, I truly desire to understand Your ways and ponder them in my heart.

* * *

"All those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart." Luke 2:18-19 NKJV

SON OF ENCOURAGEMENT

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BARNABAS

Read Acts 11:19–30, 12:24–13:3

     They sent Barnabas to Antioch. 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. Acts 11:22-23 NIV

* * *

    Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, received a new Christian name from the apostles. They called him Barnabas, which means "Son of Encouragement." He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord through his ministry. (11:24) He went to Tarsus to find Saul, and brought him to Antioch, where the two of them ministered for a year. In later years Saul, also called Paul, would write of Barnabas and his cousin John Mark, "They have proved to be a comfort to me." (Colossians 4:11)

     Barnabas possessed the gifts of encouragement and discernment. He was quick to recognize the Spirit of the Lord in a new believer and slow to write him off when he failed. His cousin John Mark ran away during a time of persecution, but later rejoined Barnabas in powerful ministry.

* * *

     Lord, help me to be an encourager like Barnabas. Grant me the wisdom to teach our children how to encourage each other as well. As with Barnabas, fill us with the Holy Spirit and faith so that we can encourage other Christians to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. (11:23-24)

* * *

      The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. Acts 11:26 NIV

WHAT GOD HAS CLEANSED

PETER AND CORNELIUS

Read Acts 11:1–18

But the voice answered me again from heaven, 'What God has cleansed you must not call common.' Acts 11:9 NKJV

* * *

Up to this time, the apostles preached primarily to the Jewish people. Even at Pentecost, the people from various nations were professing Jews. To come to God, Peter believed a person must become a Jew and follow the Jewish laws and abstain from eating certain foods. This story about Peter's vision reveals God's plan to bring the gospel to the world.

God told Peter that he was going to do a new thing through him. He directed Peter to an Italian centurion named Cornelius whose heart was prepared to hear the gospel. Today he and his household were going to hear the good news, believe it, and receive the Holy Spirit; bringing the first of many Gentiles into the New Testament church.

* * *

Dear heavenly Father, help me to remember that before I ever speak to someone about Christ, You have already paved the way. You said, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him,"(John 6:44 NKJV) I pray for the drawing of the Holy Spirit in the lives of our friends and children and grandchildren. Speak to their hearts, so that our words will fall on willing ears.

* * *

If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?" Acts 11:17 NKJV

THE MAN WHO RAISED HAVOC

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FROM DAMASCUS TO JERUSALEM

Read: Acts 9:23–31

All those who heard him were astonished and asked, "Isn't he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name?" Acts 9:21 NIV

* * *

After Saul's conversion, and recovery from blindness, he began to preach openly, that "Jesus is the Son of God." Believers were afraid of him, and Jews wanted to kill him; so his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall. (9:25) From there he traveled back to Jerusalem to join the believers there, but they didn't think he was sincere. With the help of Barnabas, he told his story to the apostles, and was accepted into the church. For a time he spoke boldly to the Jews about his newfound faith, but persecution began again, and Saul left for Tarsus.

* * *

Lord, I can just imagine how those early Christians must have felt. Saul was the one who stood by while Stephen was martyred. He was the one who dragged off men and women and put them in prison. Not only did they need to believe him, they also had to forgive him. Thank You for forgiving me, and help me to learn to forgive others who have "caused havoc in the church."

* * *

Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit; it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord. Acts 9:31 NIV

A SPECIAL APPOINTMENT

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PHILIP

Read Acts 8:26–40; Isaiah 53:7–8

Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road-the desert road-that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." Acts 8:26 NIV

* * *

God had a special appointment for Philip on a desert road leading from Jerusalem to Gaza. Though he didn't know it, he was to meet with the chief treasurer for Queen Candace of Ethiopia. This man was sitting in his chariot reading aloud from the book of Isaiah the prophet.

Philip approached and asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" "How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me? …who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?"(8:30b-31a, 34bNIV)

The passage read, "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice…For his life was taken from the earth." (Acts 8:32–33 NIV) Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. (8:35)

* * *

Philip didn't know why he was told to go to the desert, but God had a specific reason for sending him there. Lord, when I am worried, help me to trust Your leading for our family, knowing that You have a purpose for our lives, and perhaps that purpose will be to influence and encourage other people along the way.

* * *

Then…Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. Acts 8:38-39 NIV

WHO ARE YOU LORD?

SAUL

Read Acts 8:1–3; 9:1–22
     Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison. Acts 8:2-3

* * *

     The day that Stephen was martyred, a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem. The young man, Saul, asked for official approval to go to Damascus, and arrest any who belonged to "the Way," whether men or women. (9:2)
     Saul did this believing that he had God's approval as well. Later he would say, "I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers." (Galatians1:14)
     On his way to Damascus, this fiery zealous young man had a massive change of heart. He met Jesus who said, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" His immediate response was, "Who are you, Lord?" (Acts 9:4–5)

* * *

     Dear Jesus, You are the One who knows men's hearts. Help me to believe that even those who seem to oppose the gospel may have a heart that is searching, and when You speak to them, they will recognize Your voice, because they are Your chosen ones.

* * *

     "God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles… " Galatians 1:15-16a