Acts 11:26b - In Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.
This devotion pairs with this weekend's Lutheran Hour sermon, which can be found at LHM.org.
As a pastor, I know firsthand how a local congregation can be like a family. Sometimes it's beautiful and God's people love each other and serve each other. And sometimes the church is plagued by rivalry and dissension. The Tuesday morning group is up in arms because the youth group had a Nerf gun battle, and there are little Nerf darts all over the Bible study room. Or a member scowls at a young mom wrestling her toddler in a pew that's strewn with Cheerios. Or two choir members who were once friends but they spoke unkind words to each other, and it escalated—and now they don't speak. Yes, in the church, our unity is constantly tested.
We've been in the book of Acts, and our sermon will touch on a city called Antioch. The church in Antioch looked much like the city of Antioch. It was incredibly diverse. There were people from all over the world, Persian and Greek, and African and Jews. People generally stayed in their part of the city. It would be like the major cities today that have a Chinatown or a neighborhood that's predominantly Irish or Polish. The church seemed destined for rivalry and dissension for that kind of segregation. But when the Gospel of Jesus came to Antioch, something interesting happened. It was received in every quarter of the city. It crossed race and language. The people of Antioch didn't know what to make of it. Who are these people? We have no label for them. What do we call them? And so they called them "Christians"—"little Christ," the "Christ people." They knew the Greeks. They knew the Jews. But now in Christ there was a new kind of people. It was a radical unity that brought them together.
In a society that is divided, this is unusual. Only Jesus can bring together this ragtag group of people. We share one label that supersedes all: "Christian," "little Christ." You are known by the Name of Jesus Christ, the One who transferred us from the domain of darkness into His kingdom of light. You are known by His label, the One who died that we might live; the One who was born a Jew of the tribe of Judah in order to save every tribe and race and language. You are known by the name Christian, for you belong to Christ. So will you show the world what real unity looks like? Will you confuse the world by your love for one another? Will you live in the spirit of Antioch and cross boundaries and differences? Will you share, forgive, bear with, and build each other up? The world will see Christ Himself in you.
WE PRAY: Lord Jesus Christ, we are known by Your Name, and so work in us a radical unity, just as those first Christians in Antioch. In Your Name we pray. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Rev. Dr. Jeff Cloeter.
Reflection Questions:
1. Why is it hard for people in the church to get along sometimes?
2. What are some traits that should be noticeable in a Christian, a little Christ?
3. What do you hope people notice about you that points to your faith in Jesus as your Savior?
Today's Bible Readings: Psalms 139-141 John 17
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