Used for God’s Purpose
“When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the
believers, but they were all afraid of him. They did not believe he had truly
become a believer! Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Saul
had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus and how the Lord had spoken to Saul.
He also told them that Saul had preached boldly in the name of Jesus in
Damascus.”1
If a well-known persecutor of Christians came to your church,
it is likely everyone would run without thinking twice! You would want to be no
where near such a dangerous person, nor would it be easy to believe that this
person was there with good intentions. However, this is exactly what happened
with Saul soon after his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. God had
completely transformed his life overnight, and everyone was shocked to hear
that he had gone from arresting Christians to preaching boldly in the name of
the Lord. It was too good to be true! When Saul tried to meet with other believers,
everyone was afraid of him, that is until Barnabas, who was a good and trusted
man, stood by Saul and explained all that had happened.
Barnabas’ name means “son of encouragement”, and this was
the first part he played in Saul (Paul’s) life. He was known and respected,
therefore he was able to build a bridge between Saul and other Christian’s,
speaking up in defense of the validity of Saul’s faith and ministry. Without
Barnabas, it would have been difficult for Saul to build connection with his
fellow believers. Barnabas and Saul/Paul started their ministry together, but
later went separate ways due to a disagreement. They were godly men, filled with
the Spirit, and they enjoyed ministering together. However, even this disagreement
was used by God to further His work. They each continued their ministry which doubled
the missionary teams!
Like Barnabas, we are also called to encourage fellow Christians,
especially those who are new to the faith or struggling. Acts 11:23 describes
Barnabas as a man who was glad to see the grace of God in the lives of others.
He exhorted and encouraged them to remain faithful to the Lord. We should
always be looking for ways to appreciate, encourage, and support those who are
living and serving in ways that bring honor and glory to God. Whether we
minister together for a long while, or are simply together for a season, let us
allow God to use us for His purpose.
Suggested prayer: Lord, show me the ways in which I can
encourage someone today. Help me show appreciation for the hard work of those
who are faithfully serving you. Use my life for your glory and to further Your
work. In Jesus’s name, amen.
1. Acts
9:26-27 (NLT).
Today’s Encounter was written by: Crystal B.
All articles on this website are written by
Richard (Dick) Innes unless otherwise stated.