Stan and I were together again at the Twelve Baskets Cafe for breakfast and conversation about our faith. As he does on occasion, Stan had a picture from his friend who takes them and sends them to Stan. They talk about the spiritual significance he then passes on to me. “What picture do you have this time?” I asked.
“Take a look,” Stan replied as he handed me his phone.
I looked and saw what looked like a grave marker for someone named Lawrence Richard. “Who’s Lawrence Richard?” I asked.
“I have no idea,” Stan replied, “and it makes no difference for the point of what it says on the marker.”
I looked closer and saw that under the person’s name, date of birth, and date of death, there was a Scripture reference. “It says Acts 11:24. What’s the significance of that?”
“That’s what my friend and I talked about,”Stan replied. “Acts 11:24 is where the apostle Luke wrote a wonderful thing about Barnabas. Someone thought it was fitting for Lawrence Richard, and it’s the sort of thing that every person should hope is the epitaph for their life.”
Since I wasn’t familiar with Acts 11:24, I asked, “What’s that verse say?”
“In writing about Barnabas, Luke described him as a good man who was full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.”
“Good and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith,” I repeated. “What a marvelous description!”
“Indeed,” Stan agreed. “Wouldn’t that be a wonderful epitaph for every person’s life?”
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Bible verses to consider:
And the news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. Then when he had come and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord; for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. Acts of the Apostles 11:22-24.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus and His finished work on the cross as the way to life with you, the life that begins here and will continue forever. Even though I know I will spend eternity in your presence, I confess that too often while I remain on this side of eternity, it does not appear that Luke’s description of Barnabas applies to me, in that I don’t appear to be good, full of the Holy Spirit, or full of faith. Please forgive that foolish approach to living the new life you’ve given. Help me follow every step of your lead so you could, if you wanted to do so, write that epitaph for my life on this side of eternity. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Are you “full of the Holy Spirit and of faith” in the sense you’ve accepted God’s provision of life with Him through Jesus’ finished work on the cross? If no, why do you choose to remain separated from God both now and forever? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, does your life manifest that you are a good person who is full of the Holy Spirit and of faith? If you sense the desire for change with any of this, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you truly want? Why or why not?
The need: Since God knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8), what does He know you need to not only be full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, but to live a life that meets Luke’s description of Barnabas? Spend time studying God’s word, praying, reflecting, and journaling to see what God knows you need. He will show you!
Forward: Do you know others who would or could benefit from this devotional? If so, why not forward it and open them to be part of the conversation between Stan and S. Tory Teller?