Acts 11 – Critic or Consolation
The first part of Acts 11 is a response to critics who were
more interested in their own agenda than God’s. They even challenged the
leading apostle – Peter.
How easily we can fall into this trap and criticise others to
present ourselves as superior. So many different groups of people major on insignificant
detail to distinguish themselves.
These critics missed the point – God was doing something very
special – reaching out in mercy and grace to all the people of the world.
The second part of Acts 11 is very refreshing. God at work in
His mission to all the people of the nations.
Believers scattered by persecution began to tell many others
the Good News about the Lord Jesus Christ – once crucified, now risen. Independent
of any special persons or special
methods, the seed of the word of the Lord sprang to life and a great number
turned to the Lord. God then used Barnabas to encourage the believers to be faithful to the Lord. He
did not institute some new religion, but encouraged them to establish their
relationship to the Lord Jesus. Barnabas , the great encourager, seeks out a
discarded disciple – Saul. Together they move forward for God, with God in
conjunction with the Christians at Antioch.
Let us double check our commitment to the Lord Jesus – over and
above all other commitments.
Let us be encourager's and evangelists, carrying the good news
to those about us.
John McKee
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