Student Devotion Week 6: Barnabas: Supporting As We Go

Key Verses:  Acts 4:36-37, “36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.”
Acts 11:19-30, “19 Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. 20 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. 22 News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. 25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. 27 During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) 29 The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea.30 This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.”

What do Heath Ledger as the Joker in The Dark Knight (2008) and Jennifer Hudson as Effie in Dream Girls (2006) have in common? Nothing at first glance, they couldn’t be more opposite. But as unique as these characters seem in their movies, each won the Academy Award for best supporting role. Neither of the stories would be the same without their contributions. In fact, though neither of these actors played their respective plots’ main character, this is quite possibly the person who comes to mind as making the film truly great.

Similarly, it would be hard to argue against a guy named Barnabas being the obvious frontrunner if such an award existed in the New Testament. Although, if he were given a little gold statue, he would probably sell it and give the money away! (Read Acts 4:36-37 to see why.)

Every time Barnabas is mentioned in Scripture, he is encouraging someone else, supporting God’s bigger story, and enabling others to play their parts. He is not fighting for the spotlight; he is simply fulfilling his role in the mission. Now turn over and read Acts 11:19-30.

Barnabas had a reputation for being trustworthy, generous, and supportive. He did whatever was needed at the time and many lives were changed as a result.

What about your role in God’s mission? How are you known? If you are a Christ-follower, then you are part of His story now. Are you willing to play whatever part is necessary, following the Spirit’s direction? There are people in your life that need to be encouraged. They need to not only hear about God’s grace, but to also experience it through your generosity. Your life is not about you. Jesus is the Hero. You play a supporting role in the greatest adventure of love and mystery ever known. Give everything you’ve got to make the story of Christ famous TODAY.

Student Devotion Week 5: Philip: Anytime, Anywhere

Key Verse: Acts 8:26-40, " 26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian [a] eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”

30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.

31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.

33 Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.”
34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” 37 Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” The eunuch answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 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. 40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea."

"Be Prepared." This has been the Scout motto for 100 years. Millions of young people around the world have been raised to be ready for any opportunity that may present itself...at least in theory. (Trying and untying knots may not be quite as essential a skill as it was back in the day). From Hank Aaron to Steven Spielberg, Martha Stewart to Bill Gates, people from all kinds of backgrounds grew up with this simple idea echoing in their minds. But maybe Scouts was never your thing. Sure, the cookies may be great but badges and uniforms had zero appeal. Regardless of how comfortable you feel in shorts and tall socks, the concept of being prepared is one we all need to embrace.

Read Acts 8:26-40. Philip was prepared to obey God immediately, going to a desert road and then running up to a man traveling home. When Philip approached the Ethiopian eunuch, he stepped right into a situation to share the story of Jesus. He was prepare to answer the man’s question about Scripture. When the royal official responded to the gospel in faith, Philip was prepared to baptize the new believer. Then, he was on his way again, ready to go anywhere God led him and to talk with anyone who crossed his path.

Are your prepared? If God provided the opportunities would you be able to step in and respond with faith and obedience? With Philip, God provided the direction, the opportunity, and the perfect timing. (They just happened to be passing water in the desert deep enough for both of them to go down into for baptism!) Are you listening to the Spirit, looking for God to open doors, and running through them when He does? When opportunity knocks, are you prepared to share the good news of Jesus Christ anytime, anywhere, with anyone?

Student Devotional Week 4: Nehemiah: Rising to the Challenge

Key Verse: Nehemiah 4:1-3, "When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, 2 and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble —burned as they are?” 3 Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, “What they are building—even a fox climbing up on it would break down their wall of stones!” 

The checkout line is littered with them...gossip magazines and bizarre tabloids. Cheap photo tricks, made up news, shocking headlines, and heartless jabs. These magazines aren't concerned with journalistic integrity to say the least; they're out for blood and money. It doesn't matter who gets hurt in the process, as long as you buy into the hype. The paparazzi are like snipers, poaching celebrity privacy in hunt for some juicy scandal or dirty little secret. If they can't dig one up, they'll create one. Relations, body image, steroids-whatever. The worse, the better. If a public figure is going to survive today' media-saturated climate, he or she needs to learn how to tune out the noise. (It also helps to actually stay out of trouble!)

First read Nehemiah 4:1-3. God's people endured some real critics. The harshness of the ridicule may get lost in translation, but the Jews were seriously harassed. Sanballat led the charge, rallying support form the wealthy and influential establishment. But Nehemiah was not discouraged. Now read Nehemiah 6:5-9. When mockery didn't prove to be a sufficient deterrent, Sanballat began writing lies. Again, Nehemiah ignored the lies, dismissing the false accusations as existing only in his enemies' mind. Instead of giving up, Nehemiah rose to meet the challenge, praying for God's strength. The result: He saw the impossible made possible.

Whether you like it or not, whether you think it's fair or unfair, people are watching you. If you start taking this "God thing" seriously, people aren't  going to be cool with it. But when insults and rumors begin spreading about your radical lifestyle and impossibly idealistic perspective, what will you do? Will you cave, crumbling under the pressure like the rubble of an old wall, or will you pray for God's strength to complete the mission He has given you?

Student Devotional Week 3 John The Baptist: On Mission Regardless of the Cost

Key Verses: Mark 6:17-29, "¹⁷ For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married.¹⁸ For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”¹⁹ So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, ²⁰ because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him. ²¹ Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. ²² When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” ²³ And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.” ²⁴ She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” “The head of John the Baptist,” she answered. ²⁵ At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” ²⁶ The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. ²⁷ So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, ²⁸ and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her other. ²⁹ On hearing of this, John’s disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb."

First in line... everything in you wants to be first in line. You plan on camping out for days if necessary. Worst case scenario, plan B means not even flinching at the chance to pay a scalper an outrageous price for a ticket. You have to be there. Missing out for any reason is simply not an option. Your mind even wonders to fantastic extremes of sneaking in, outrunning security, scaling walls... whatever it takes. No price is to great, no risk unreasonable; nothing will keep you from this experience of a lifetime. (Whatever your obsession: a sporting event, concert, premiere, release-you name it). 

Grab your Bible and open it to Mark 6:17-29. Read about the price John the Baptist paid for refusing to compromise his message. John has seriously offended Herodias; well, enraged is more like it. Nobody likes having his or her sin called out, and John never held any punches. As far as he was concerned, God's standard didn't play favorites, making exceptions for powerful or popular people. So when John called Herod out on his twisted little love triangle involving the wife of his brother, he stepped on toes that weren't used to getting stepped on.

It is not secret when you cross the wrong girl. Pretty "Miss Popular" ending up demanding John's head on a platter, and Herod delivered. Can't you just see that party? 

It's easy for us to think we got it so bad when others leave us out or make fun of us. Nobody will pretend like that doesn't hurt-it's real. And honestly, that might be the extent that God is calling you to endure. But are willing to stare down any suffering or rejection? And give up everything for the sake of God's kingdom? No matter how great or seeming insignificant the price, are you willing to pay the price for following Christ? And there is a cost. Everyday there is a price to pay. Like John, will you not even flinch, jumping at any opportunity to make any sacrifice in order to see God at work? Never compromise. God doesn't.