Mar 28, 2021
An Effective Work
28th MARCH, 2021
Then Barnabas paid a visit to Tarsus to try to find Saul. He succeeded, and brought him to Antioch; and for a whole year they attended the meetings of the Church, and taught a large number of people. And it was in Antioch that the disciples first received the name of ‘Christians.’ [Acts 11:25–26 Weymouth]
In Antioch, both gentiles and Jews who were believers had come together while running away from persecution. So, to help bring proper doctrine to them in the issues concerning their faith, Barnabas was sent unto them. At that time, Saul was in Tarsus, as he had to escape the Grecians (Jews who had adopted Greek culture) who wanted to kill him because he spoke and debated against them. Barnabas knew that Saul had been discipled, was sound in doctrine and he was an effective worker for the gospel hence, he went after him to bring him on-board.
Discipleship helps us to be effective with the work of the ministry we have received from the Lord Jesus Christ. The load of the work of the ministry is not something that one man can handle. Hands are needed to carry the weight and the burden. But we must understand that not everyone will willingly offer their strength, time and money for the benefit of the ministry we have received from the Lord. We have to teach them to do so. We have to train them for them to be useful.
Just like our verse for today, there are large numbers of young people all over our communities. But guess what; we haven’t been able to reach them for Christ because the disciples are few. Barnabas and Saul did such an effective work that the people (gentiles and Jews) understood that they were one and had to be identified with a common name hence, it was in Antioch that the name “Christians” was birthed.
When we have disciples teaching other people to become disciples, false doctrines lose their hold on the minds of people. Disciples are able to rightly divide the word of truth so that any high thing that seeks to exalt itself against the knowledge of Christ is cast down. We can minister to and teach the large numbers of young people when disciples show up.
Lord Jesus, thank You for the opportunity for me to be discipled. Please grant me the grace to serve effectively and to advance the work of the kingdom of God.
Further Reading: Acts 13:1–2 / 1 Corinthians 4:17
Bible In One Year: 2 Samuel [10–13]
