Morning Dew – January 4, 2013

Key Passage: Acts 11:20-26

Key Scripture: “When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad…”

Grace is visible. It is evident. It can be seen and experienced. When Barnabas was sent by the Apostles to check out the move of God in Antioch, the bible tells us, “he saw the grace of God and was glad”. What did he see? The bible did not tell us specifically, but in the preceding verses we can see what he may have seen “And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.” So it was clear that Christ was being preached and a great number were being converted to Jesus Christ.  I would like to guess that the number of new converts was quite substantial, for the bible to use the word great.

This grace probably gave them ability beyond what was normal.  Here lies the revelation. Great human beings can achieve great things, but what the Lord can do with ordinary people under His grace is far more than great men can do with all their might. When the grace of God is at work, it is undeniable. You see it. You experience it and it leaves you in awe and wonder.

Every time I have personally visited the Redeemed Camp on Lagos/Ibadan Expressway, I see the evidence of God’s grace. I see that this is not the work of a man. God is working through ordinary human beings, empowered by His visible grace. Also, when I visited Columbia and saw how the Mission Charimatica Internationale has impacted the society, I knew this was the grace of God in action. I’m sure you have your own stories.

Today, I want to encourage you to believe God for His visible grace in your life. Perhaps in your business, family, health, church or even your nation. As you pray and believe, expect God to do much more than you can do as an ordinary human being.  Ephesians 3:21-21 says “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen”

Lastly, the testimony of the Antioch Church is that “And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.” Amazing, this church so manifested Jesus Christ that the earned the first recognition of ‘little Christs’. The ultimate evidence of God’s grace is that Christ will be glorified and magnified.

Let us Pray: Father in the name of Jesus, we thank you for the exceeding provisions of your grace. Please let my life be a demonstration of your visible grace. Let the world see Jesus in and through my life and do something with me that will make people know that it is you not I that is at work. In Jesus name. Amen.