Barnabas - The Bridge Builder
Scripture:
Acts 9:26-31
When he came to Jerusalem, he tried repeatedly to associate with the disciples; and yet they were all afraid of him, as they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus at Damascus. And he was with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord. And he was talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews; but they were attempting to put him to death. Now when the brothers learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus. So the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria enjoyed peace, as it was being built up; and as it continued in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it kept increasing.
Cowboy Wisdom:
Saul found himself in no man's land. His old friends rejected him for his conversion, and his new family suspected him because of his past. He was a cowboy without a ranch, making repeated attempts to join the herd but getting turned away at every gate.
Then Barnabas stepped up. True to his name—son of encouragement—he vouched for Saul when no one else would. He built the bridge between Saul's past and his future. He said, "I'll stand with him," and that changed everything.
New believers desperately need a Barnabas. They need someone to come alongside them, teach them, love them, and vouch for them when others doubt. Discipleship isn't handing someone a formula and wishing them luck. It's riding alongside them through the rough terrain.
“Breaking a wild horse takes patience, skill, and time spent in the saddle together. You can't do it from a distance, and you can't do it with a manual. Same goes for making disciples."
Questions for Reflection:
Who has been a Barnabas in your life, standing with you when others doubted?
Is there a "Saul" in your church who needs someone to vouch for them and walk with them?
How can you invest in genuine relationships with newer believers rather than just pointing them to resources?
Prayer Focus:
Thank God for the people who have encouraged and supported your faith journey. Ask Him to show you who needs your encouragement and mentorship, and give you wisdom to disciple them well.
