Acts - Week 6 / Thursday

Today's Reading: Acts 11:25-26

"Who Looked for You?"

Barnabas remained in Antioch for a time to help the new church, but soon realized his need for additional assistance. So he traveled to the town of Tarsus to look for Saul and persuaded him to return with him to Antioch. For a year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people.

Barnabas continued his work of encouragement. Needing help, he sought out Saul, still an relatively new believer with no real ministry experience.

Can't you see Barnabas as he works side by side with Saul? He shows him what to do, shares his own knowledge, watches as Saul does some teaching and offers encouragement and correction along the way. For a year, Barnabas influences and invests into the man who would write most of the New Testament and travel the world to spread the gospel. Their ministry to this church in Antioch was so effective that it was here that the believers were first called "Christians", Christ followers.

Who looked for you? Who spoke into your life and encouraged you to grow? What influence did they have in who you are today?

If you take a moment to ponder your answer, you will find that God has used various people along the way to encourage you.

Who are you "looking" for? Who has God placed in your path to help grow and nurture? Who are you influencing?

Barnabas went "looking" for Saul. About 10 years later this same Saul, now the Apostle Paul wrote these words to the Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 11:1 "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ."

That would be a great statement for each of us to say.

Tomorrow: "Help is on the Way"