Insightful Musings on the Scriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
2 March 10
Greetings, dear ones.
I am trying to get back on schedule after skiing two days within four days...a very rare experience. If it were not for gift lift tickets both days, it could not have happened. Yesterday was very very fun day. It was my first time to hit Timberline with the upper Palmer lift in operation. What a terrific enhancement that is to that area! Mt. Hood loomed over us in magnificent splendor. We could look south and see with clarity Mt. Jefferson and the Sisters. Just gorgeous!
Anyway...back to the real world of work and challenges. May you be blessed in your work and behavior today.
Ray
2 March 2010
Passage: Acts 11:10-30
Focus: “When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad…” Acts 11:23.
Let’s consider some definitions of “grace” as supplied by my Webster’s New World Dictionary. “1. Beauty or charm of form, composition, movement, or expression 2. an attractive quality, feature, manner, etc. 3. a) a sense of what is right and proper; decency b) thoughtfulness toward others 4. good will; favor.”
Rather than quote the whole entry, I’ll jump to definition number 10: “Theol. 1) the unmerited love and favor of God toward man b) divine influence acting in man to make him pure and morally strong c) the condition of a person thus influenced d) a special virtue given to a person by God.”
With these definitions in mind, let’s consider again verse 23: “When he (Barnabas) 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.” There were attractive qualities of love, holiness, and changed lives emanating from these new Gentile believers that could not be missed. Not only was this obvious to Barnabas, but it seems that the whole community was taking notice. For it says that “the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch” (11:26).
Would to God we could see more CHRISTIANS like them in our own community—people who promote more than a bunch of truth claims, but give clear “evidence of the grace of God.” Too often the title CHRISTIAN is represented by people who are about as goofed up in their personal lives as any other typical worldling.
Can we bring it close to home—like real close? How about you? To what degree is your life giving “evidence of the grace of God?” I’ve heard the question put this way: “If you were put on trial and accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to prove you guilty?”