Step Up and Speak Up

At some point in your life, someone took a chance on you.

Whether it was a reference on a resume or a buddy bailing you out of trouble, we’ve all had someone at some point step up and speak up for us.
Barnabas took a chance on Saul (Acts 9:26-31) and welcomed him in, despite Saul’s cruel and crooked past. Barnabas STEPPED UP and SPOKE UP on behalf of Saul in front of all of the disciples, defending someone he didn’t know that well because God had called him to love others.

Who believes in you, even when other people don’t?

Your mom, dad, coach, best friend?
Jesus does.
When you accept Jesus as your savior, he erases the past and embraces the potential that is in us all to follow Him and live a purposeful life.

Who do you believe in, even when other people don’t?

Barnabas quickly believed in a man, Saul, that had murdered hundreds of Christians – maybe even people he knew! It’s tough to see the potential in people sometimes, especially when their track record is rocky. But think about this way: How does God view you? God didn’t act with suspicion to save you, but with grace. He speaks up for you when no one else will, embracing your potential and erasing your past.

Because Barnabas spoke up for Saul, Saul was able to speak up for Christ. Imagine if Barnabas hadn’t stepped up to take a chance on Saul – the church wouldn’t be what it is today, millions of people wouldn’t know Jesus, Romans and Jews wouldn’t have had a person to preach the gospel to them both, and almost half of the New Testament that daily guides us wouldn’t exist.
Your decision to step up and speak up for someone will have more impact than you can ever imagine.

So how can we Step Up and Speak Up for others?

1.    Erase the past

       “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.” Isaiah 43:18 When we stop looking at the past in others, we are able to see the future that Jesus has for us!

2.    Embrace the potential

       "But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the

       heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

3.    Act in love

       “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8.

       We are called to love people enough to speak up for them, even when it means taking a chance on someone. After all, at some point in your life someone took a chance on you.