The Blessing Of Being A Barnabas

Saul was a Pharisee priest and a tent-maker. God's Word tells us that he "was blameless according to the Law", meaning that he was perfect in keeping the requirements of God's Law to Israel.

Though this might initially make him sound like a holy, righteous man of God, he was not. Saul did not believe in Jesus Christ as the Messiah. In fact, caught up in his religious but unspiritual zeal, Saul pursued, imprisoned, tortured and killed many people who actually believed in Jesus Christ. He was noted to chase them from their homes, even to foreign countries, in his quest to stamp out those who named the name of Christ Jesus.

But something amazing was happening within Saul's heart.

Blinded So He Might See
Somehow, perhaps enhanced by seeing the faithfulness under fire of those whom he was torturing and killing, the Holy Spirit was "pricking" the conscience of Saul.

One day when he was traveling to the city of Damascus, a bright light came from heaven, blinding Saul, and he fell to his knees. His first words are telling, revealing how the Holy Spirit had been "pursuing" him. "LORD," he said, "who are You?"

God's Word goes on to tell us of how Christ directed Saul to the city and to a house where he would find a man named Ananias. Ananias, Christ told Saul, would pray for him, and he would receive his sight and the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

When God told Ananias the same thing, you can imagine how he must have felt at first. He double-checked with God, and God assured him that Saul was a man who would do much for God's kingdom. So Ananias obeyed God, welcomed Saul with the
greeting "Brother Saul....." and prayed for him. Saul's sight
was restored and he received God's Spirit.

A Bumpy Beginning For A New Life in Christ
Saul's conversion was immediate. His passion for proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ was set fire upon his receiving of the Holy Spirit. So enormous was his desire to speak of his new-found Lord and Saviour that the next days found him in the Jewish temple. There he preached to the Jews and converted Christians alike that, of a Truth, Jesus Christ was the Messiah.

Though some had already believed in Saul's message, this messenger was not well received. You can understand why. Just days before, Saul was widely known for the persecution and slaughter of believers all around the Middle East. And so it was not just the unsaved Jews, and not just the converted believers, but in fact them apostles themselves who vehemently and publicly rejected Saul.

Only one man stood with Saul. His name was Barnabas.

New Lives (and New Chapters in Lives) in Christ Need A Barnabas
People who have not had a life-long relationship with Jesus Christ may be embarrassed by their former life. Others who have known Him but have stumbled profoundly along the way may be embarrassed by their sin, as well. Still others who have walked faithfully but have encountered trials and tribulations (a private medical condition, shameful behavior by a loved one, or a hurtful divorce, for example) that they wish would be forgotten instead of publicized. All of these people have felt like Saul must have felt.

So when Saul - and any believer who has led an evil life before their conversion, or has stumbled through a detour in their Christian walk, or has suffered through an embarrassing trial or tribulation - first began his new walk with Christ, it must have crossed his mind that he wished that people would somehow just see that he had changed and immediately forget the past. But they couldn't.

And so, it must have quickly become apparent to Saul, and does so to believers like him today, that after we (or circumstances outside our control) have changed we will be walking under scrutiny for some time before people begin to see us differently. And we need a special person to accompany us on this first part of our next journey. We need a Barnabas.

The Blessing of A Barnabas
Barnabas stood alone with Saul, confirming what God had told him to all who would hear - that Saul was a true believer and had been called to a mighty work for God. This undoubtedly encouraged Saul, delayed physical and spiritual violence against Saul by others, and eventually began to turn the tide toward accepting him as a treasured Brother in Christ.

We must understand the intimacy that must have existed between Barnabas and Saul. No one else would believe Saul, so he must have been truly touched by and indebted to Barnabas' devotion. In turn, Barnabas must have been inspired by the miraculous transformation of such an evil man as Saul, and been moved by his perseverance in the face of almost universal rejection by his brethren.

The blessing of a Barnabas cannot be underestimated, my friends, and sometimes the presence of a Barnabas in our lives can spell the difference between a speedy manifestation of our new life (or a new chapter in our life) in Christ or a bumpy, troubled transition to that fullness.

Being A Barnabas
I was recently discussing what I am sharing here with a group of young believing children. When I asked what we can do when God calls us to be a Barnabas for someone in our lives, I got a wonderful response, one born of the Holy Spirit within them.

"Love them, help them and teach them," they replied. That sums it up completely, my friends. Somewhere along the path of our lives, we've had or will have need of a Barnabas at our sides, and we will never forget their gift to us. In turn, somewhere over the course of our lives, we have had or will have God call us to be a Barnabas for someone else. When the opportunity comes, we must not shrink away in fear, but embrace the opportunity while remembering the blessing that this relationship can be for both parties involved.

We must not be afraid that we won't know what to do while being a Barnabas. The children have already told us, yes? Just do it from your heart, and God will lead you.

"Love them, help them and teach them."

Wherever two or more are gathered, there Christ Jesus is in the midst of them. Two of us are enough to overcome any obstacle, if He is there with us! One step, one day, one heart at a time, we walk together with those whom God has drawn together with us toward His eternal city. Partners in life, in time, in Spirit, and in love.

I will pray for you, that God would bring the blessed Barnabas you need in the hour when you need them, and that He would cause you to be a blessed Barnabas to others in their hour of need, as well, my dear brethren.