Day 254 - Bold Grace

Acts Chapter 14

Acts 14: 1-3

“The same thing happened in Iconium. Paul and Barnabas went to the Jewish synagogue and preached with such power that a great number of both Jews and Greeks became believers. Some of the Jews, however, spurned God’s message and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas.But the apostles stayed there a long time, preaching boldly about the grace of the Lord. And the Lord proved their message was true by giving them power to do miraculous signs and wonders.”

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Reflection

Daily Reading - Chapter 14

Acts 14: 1-3

“The same thing happened in Iconium. Paul and Barnabas went to the Jewish synagogue and preached with such power that a great number of both Jews and Greeks became believers. Some of the Jews, however, spurned God’s message and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas.But the apostles stayed there a long time, preaching boldly about the grace of the Lord. And the Lord proved their message was true by giving them power to do miraculous signs and wonders.”

Paul and Barnabus are boldly preaching and spreading the Good news of grace in towns across the land like Iconium, Lystra and Derbe. Grace is good news - grace defined in the Christian tradition means free and unmerited favor of God as manifested in salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings. This is very good news, we don’t have to earn grace it is given freely. But we have to receive it, that is an active word, we have to take what is given in order to receive. Paul boldly received it when it was offered to him on the road to Damascus. Boldness is part of Paul’s essential nature and character. He was boldly against the believers. So who better to be granted grace for the kingdom. 

If the worst of the worst who believed and lived wholeheartedly and boldly for the works based faith that by the way wasn’t not working very well for humanity can be forgiven and be transformed, then you and I can trust it and receive it. Imagine how you can spread the good news of grace specifically paired with your essential nature and characteristics. As I think of my own nature of curiosity, learned and encouragement I can be a powerful messenger of grace as well. First I have to believe and receive and then partner. Which is what I am adventurously engaged in doing right now. Willingly giving up my identity of who I thought I was and what I thought I was hear to do. 

This doesn’t mean that I am responsible for others believing and receiving. Paul and Barnabus were planting seeds by preaching and teaching. There were some that were so amazed by a miracle Paul performed in Lystra that they believed that Paul and Barnabus were the Greek gods Zeus and Hermes incarnate and started bringing them offerings. Paul and Barnabus were shocked and pleading with them to believe that they were just humans like them. Many just couldn’t wrap their minds open to this new way of understanding therefore they couldn’t receive it.  

There were those who were against Paul and Barnabus that capitalized on this confusion and incited the crowds to turn against them and attack them. In fact they stoned Paul and dragged him out of town to the point that he was left for dead. But God once again extended bold grace to Paul and he was not dead and he got up, dusted off his feet and moved on to the next assignment.  Paul accepted with grace the hardship that he would have to endure for Jesus and God to spread the good news of grace. 

How can you use this example to think about your own nature, essence, gifts, talents and life experiences to spread the good news of grace to others? It is not just a ‘telling’ of the good news, it is also role modeling and demonstrating living proof?

 

Daily Journal Prompt: 

How can you use this example to think about your own nature, essence, gifts, talents and life experiences to spread the good news of grace to others? It is not just a ‘telling’ of the good news, it is also role modeling and demonstrating living proof?

Tomorrows Reading: 

Acts Chapters 15-19

 

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