Acts 9:26-28 - Are You A Barnabas?

Acts 9:26-28
When he 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.

Have you ever had a poisonous snake as a pet? How about an adult crocodile -- or an un-altered skunk?

No? Probably because you were afraid of them, or not sure you could completely trust them.

What would you do if a known murderer sat next to you in church? Would get up and move . . . to the next city?

We have a natural aversion to dangerous things, and once we know something is dangerous, it is hard for us to accept them as anything else but dangerous!

Imagine what it was like for those in the church in Jerusalem who gathered for prayer only to recognize the "new guy" as being none other than -- Saul of Tarsus, "Persecutor of Christians!"

It would not have been easy to sit there and not be worried about being in the middle of an anti-Christian sting operation.

It couldn't have been easy for Saul either. There he was with his world turned upside down. Knowing what he knew about Christ, he couldn't go back to his old life . . . and yet, his new "brothers" wanted nothing to do with him.

Were it not for the bravery of Barnabas . . .

Sometimes it takes someone to step in and bring us together. The reformed convict -- the publicly exposed sinner -- the rehabilitated drug user -- even the new guy in town -- can all be left out in the cold by the unfounded fear of others. Any and all can have a difficult time finding a way to fit in among us.

Can you be a Barnabas?

Step back a few paces and look around you . . . Who do you see out on the edge of your fellowship? Who is the "spiritual" wall flower that you can help bring in to the fold?

It took guts for Barnabas to approach Saul. You know he had to wonder if Saul was truly converted. Yet, he could see the benefit of helping Saul get acquainted with the brethren . . .

Thirteen letters of the New Testament, all written by the same Saul of Tarsus (Paul), show us that Barnabas was right!