So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.
––Acts 11:25-26
What is in a name? For believers in Jesus Christ, the name “Christian” is a most important distinction. Yet the name, title, and designation “Christian” has a wide and varied application in public forum today. There are cultural references to the title, denominational references, and personal ascents to the term. That being said, knowing and understanding what “Christian” means is vital to any believer.
In Acts 11 we see the first mention of the word “Christian” in the Bible. With that first mention we will glean significant understanding about who we are, what we believe, what we receive, and how we must respond if indeed we are to be called “Christians.”
- Are you a believer in the one true God and His Son, Jesus?
- Do you bear His likeness?
- Is the Spirit of God at work in you?
These are all distinctions that make believers distinct and allow them to bear the name, “Christian.”
Use these prayer points this week to focus your prayer time.
- Praise Jesus as your Savior, Lord, and Master.
- Repent from any disobedience in your walk with Christ.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to help you submit to the Spirit’s work in your life.
- Yield to the Spirit and trust God to help you be a powerful witness for others for Jesus.
Blessings,
Jacqueline Heider
Director of Women’s Ministry, Prayer, and Resource Specialist