11:27 And in these days
prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 Then one of them, named Agabus,
stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine
throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. 29
Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to
the brethren dwelling in Judea. 30 This they also did, and sent it to the
elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
Acts is in a sense the painting of a picture. The painter is
the Spirit of God. The portrait is the character of God. The canvas is His
people. The book opens by painting the Spirit onto the canvas of His people.
Added to the Spirit is boldness, a boldness rooted in love. A boldness that
refuses to give up on others regardless of the personal cost. At first this
loving boldness is restricted but the Spirit of God keeps painting. Added to
boldness and love is the growing realization that no man is common or unclean.
This realization was rooted in the seeds that Jesus planted. Prompted by His
Spirit and clarified by visions they remembered that Jesus never played
favourites. They remembered that He crossed borders and knocked down walls of
prejudice and division. Suddenly the canvas reflected the impartiality of Jesus.
Suddenly the message began spreading not only geographically but across
cultures and colours and genders.
Now the Spirit is again adding to the canvas in two ways. The
gift of prophecy is growing in the church. It seems the wave began in Judea and
they too are travelling out across the map. One of these who has the gift of
hearing messages from God and sharing them with His people is Agabus. He has
been given a specific message. A famine is coming that will impact the world.
The response in Antioch is swift and amazing. Though affected
by the famine themselves and historically victims of Jewish racism and
prejudice they gather relief and send it with Saul and Barnabas to Judea. Not
only is the church growing numerically and geographically, it is becoming more
and more like Jesus. To Spirit filled, bold, and impartial is being added self-sacrificing
generosity even for their "enemies".
How different might the news stories be and the world be if
the character of Jesus were more vibrantly painted on the canvas of those who
profess to be His in our day! If the west were known for sending relief to
those in need instead of exploiting the world to maintain our high standard of
living. If we were known for bold love, and impartiality. If we were truly
filled with His Spirit and had a living connection with heaven. Instead we lead
the world in domestic violence, in drug abuse, in pornography production and
consumption etc...
How we have fallen from grace. How desperately we need to be
painted again. If I am learning anything from Acts it is that His people then
had many issues as we do but they were growing to become more like Him while we
seem to be shrinking and becoming less like Him. They began by waiting on Him.
Perhaps we need to humbly wait on Him as well.
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