Be Somebody's Barnabas

When [Saul] came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.

Acts 9:26-28

You may remember that Saul had been a Pharisee and was an eager persecutor of the church. He had gone to Damascus to arrest Christians, but on the way there the risen Lord Jesus had appeared to him and changed his life forever. Saul became a Christian. Eventually he was run out of Damascus narrowly escaping with his life. But when he came to the church in Jerusalem, he wasn’t welcomed with open arms. He was met with suspicion.

You see the last time the Christians in Jerusalem had encountered Saul he was one of their most ardent persecutors, so they didn’t trust him. They thought that perhaps this was a trick. They couldn’t risk letting a wolf in amongst the sheep. So Saul was left isolated and alone. This new believer and powerful preacher had no one to pray with, no one to worship with, no one to study Scripture with, no real friend or brother in Christ. He was rejected by everyone, until Barnabas found him. 

Where others saw an enemy, Barnabas saw a brother. Where others saw potential for evil, Barnabas saw potential for good. When every other Christian in Jerusalem saw only the worst in Saul, Barnabas saw the best in him. Barnabas came alongside Saul and nurtured and encouraged him. He took him under his wing. He took him to the apostles and personally vouched for him. Think about this, Barnabas introduced the apostles to the man who would write half the New Testament! And because the apostles knew and trusted Barnabas, Saul was welcomed into the church in Jerusalem. It says “he stayed with them and he moved about freely in Jerusalem and spoke boldly of Jesus.” 

Who knows how many Saul’s there are in our churches right now? How many future preachers, future missionaries, music ministers, youth ministers, deacons and Sunday School teachers are in our churches right now and all they need is for someone to come alongside them, for someone to encourage them and nurture them and give them a chance. You’ll never know the difference a little encouragement can make in someone’s life... a little belief in their abilities... a little nurturing of their talents... a little grace for their failures. You will never know what kind of impact you can have on somebody until you come alongside and encourage them.

 

Be like Barnabas! Where others saw risk, he saw potential. Where everyone else saw the worst, Barnabas saw the best. Who do you need to encourage today? It might be your spouse or a child. It might be someone who is isolated and alone like Saul was. Someone who needs a friend, a brother in Christ to come alongside them and encourage them. Will you be that brother or sister in Christ? Will you be that friend? Be somebody's Barnabas today.