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Barnabas was a rich Jew, who, after he converted to Christianity, sold his properties and gave them to the the first Christian community. Had he not been touched by the Lord, it would have been unthinkable for him to let go of all his properties just so he could turn these over to the community.
But this was not the only unthinkable and incredible thing that Barnabas did. He was sent to Antioch, a Gentile territory, to preach the Gospel.
It seems that this is the fate of those who follow the Lord. They are asked to do things they never thought they would do. They are asked to go to places they never thought they would ever go to. They are asked to sell properties they thought they would never part with. They are asked to do incredible things, they are asked to go to incredible places. This is the fate of somebody who follows the Lord.
It has happened to all of us. Before we were touched by God’s grace, we thought, “I could not do this, now I am able to do this.” We thought, “I would never be able to go to Mass daily, now I am able to go to Mass daily.” “I thought I would never be able to serve the poor. They are abominable – dirty and foul smelling. And yet I am able to do so.”
I ask you then, “What more is the Lord asking you to do?” It may be something you never thought you would do, something which up to now you have been convinced you should not do. And the Lord tells you now, “Do it.”
There can be so many incredible and unexpected things which we never thought, never expected – not in our wildest dreams – we would be able to do. But we can do them.
Barnabas sold everything. Barnabas went out to pagan territory just to proclaim the Gospel.
Ask yourself again, “What is it that I am afraid to do? What is it that the Lord is telling me to do right now that I am hesitant about, that I am reluctant to venture into?”
Somebody who loves is always daring. If you truly love the Lord, ask Him to make your love bolder, more daring. Ask the Lord to invest your love with the grace of generosity so that you will be able to do what you think you will never be able to do. That you will be able to go to where you never thought you would ever go. Ask the Lord, “Lord, make me bold, make me daring, make me faithful.”
WHAT MORE?
Acts 4:36
Only Jesus, Always Jesus
