I’ve been thinking a lot about Barnabas lately. He keeps popping up everywhere! I read something about him in a book, then a speaker at my writers’ group mentioned him, and he was mentioned this week in an online group as part of a discussion on mentors. Think God’s trying to tell me something?
Who’s Barnabas, you might ask? He was one of the apostles and founders in the early church and left a quiet - but wide - mark for us to follow. The Book of Acts only includes a few short stories about Barnabas, but we learn some important things about him. First, his original name was Joseph. The early Christians changed his name to Barnabas after he selflessly sold a field and brought the money to the disciples. The people must have seen something special to change his name, because that didn’t happen every day. And they changed it to a special name - one that meant “the consoler” or “the encourager.”
Later stories in Acts show that “encourager” was the perfect word to describe Barnabas. He routinely helped others and recognized the gifts and strengths in people when others didn’t. When Saul (Paul) experienced his conversion and tried to talk with the disciples, they were afraid of him - his past as a persecutor of Christians was too fresh on their minds and they thought he might be trying to trick them.
But Barnabas stepped up to the plate. Acts 9:27 says, “Barnabas took him [Paul], brought him to the apostles, and described for them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus.” When no one else believed - or believed in - Paul, Barnabas did. God helped him see beyond what the others did. Barnabas did this on other occasions too, helping teach and strengthen various people for God’s work. He had a gift for seeing the potential in someone and helping it come to the surface. That’s why some people call Barnabas “The Encourager.”
So what about you and your life? Who is a Barnabas for you? Who is always there to love, encourage and support you, even when the rest of the world seems to have turned away? Who helps bring out the best in you, even if it means less for them?
And on the flip side - who are you a Barnabas for? Do you know someone who needs encouragement or support or help along the way? Can you share advice or perspective to make someone’s journey easier? Can you walk with someone as a mentor through this phase of their life?
God means for us to love, encourage and lift up each other. Take some time to thank Him for the Barnabas in your life and all that person means to you. And if you feel led to, ask Him who you can be a Barnabas for. You never know how far a little encouragement might go.