Each person has great value

 

READ Acts 9–12

Again, today’s reading is about several people in the early church. While Paul and Peter are usually elevated in importance, I’m impressed that God included other stories that show every person is valuable in the Body of Christ and for their contribution to bring glory to God.

9:20-22 sums up the conversion of Saul who would soon be called Paul. His first actions involved the identity of Jesus Christ. I relate to this. When I was confronted by Jesus, the most important truth that transformed my life is the same truth that this man began teaching:

And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ. (Acts 9:20–22)

Saul’s conversion and subsequent preaching changed the world too. God used this one man in a mighty way, but He also used other individuals in varying ways. Every one of them was important as the Lord began building His church.

The next two people were a very ill man and a woman who sewed. Aeneas was healed and the residents of a capital city and surrounding area were saved when they saw what happened. Dorcas “was full of good works and acts of charity” but she became ill and died. Disciples called for Peter and he put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; “Tabitha, arise.” She opened her eyes, saw Peter and sat up. He gave her his hand and raised her up, called the saints and widows, and presented her alive. This became known throughout all Joppa, another city, and many believed in the Lord. (Acts 9:40–42)

 The story of Cornelius is an important turning point. He was an Italian centurion who “feared God, gave alms generously, and prayed continually to God.” Besides showing that salvation was for non-Jews, his conversion shows that God values those who do good, even though doing good will not save them. The last line of this man’s story also reveals how repentance happens:

“If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.” (Acts 11:17–18)

Another individual exercised his spiritual gift and affected church growth and behavior. Barnabas, whose name means ‘encourager’ “was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.” (Acts 11:24)

And one more individual exercised his gift, not always as popular to hear as encouragement, but important at this time. He was a prophet and his name was Agabus. He “stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.” (Acts 11:28–30) One person again affected the well-being of many.

James, the brother of John, is singled out as being the first martyr. How can that be important? It is now commonly said that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church, meaning that those willing to die for Jesus have a powerful testimony to the truth of what Jesus did in dying for our sin and rising from the dead to offer believers eternal life. His death and resurrection removes the fear of death and shouts the wonder of God’s grace and power. James did not die in vain.

Peter was tossed in jail after that, but an angel came and released him. Again, this one man was important in God’s plan to build His church, so God made certain that he would not die a martyr but live to preach and be part of what the Lord was doing.

This reading helps me remember to value each believer and encourage them as important to God and to His plans. We vary in our functions but He took care to mention individuals for a reason, not so we would use this a reason to be like ‘Lone Rangers’ rather than part of Christ’s body, but so we realize that every part of His church is important to what He is doing in our world.