Surprised by Joy
April 18, 2024
A Character Study
August 16, 2023
A Character Study
/
"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 11:23-24
When news reached Jerusalem that men and women in Antioch were becoming Christians, the church sent Barnabas to check things out, and they could not have found a better man for the job. Did you hear the description of Barnabas that is given in our Scripture passage? He rejoiced. He encouraged people. He made up his mind to be true to Jesus Christ. He was a good man. He was Spirit-filled. And he had great faith. You might say, “He’s got character!” But that would be incorrect. You don’t have character; character is something that you are – and what you are will be expressed in what you do.
These traits describe who Barnabas was because he was a man in Christ. He was sold out to Jesus. Surrender to God in Jesus Christ, and people around you will know Who you belong to by the character traits they see in you.
