Encouraging Grace – Standing Up For Others
Let's continue looking at ordinary people with extraordinary lives in the book of Acts. This week we'll explore the life of Barnabas, who was known and nicknamed as a 'son of encouragement'.
I think the early disciples knew that if they needed some encouragement, they could go to him.
Let's see how Barnabas did it, as we trace his story through the book of Acts.
First, I see Barnabas encouraging with much grace. He stood up for others. It starts with the man who would become his great partner in ministry: Paul, who at this point was still known as Saul, before having a dramatic conversion to the faith. But because he had been persecuting the Christians before this, the disciples were a bit wary of him. We read this: "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. He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him. When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus." (Acts 9:26-30)
When Grace Gives Others a Chance
I think it's hard for us to comprehend just how violent and dangerous Paul was in those early days. The Christians were afraid of him, because they knew that where Paul went, they were not safe. He would have them arrested or even killed.
No wonder, then, when he starts claiming to be a Christian, the other Christians are sceptical.
But Barnabas gives Paul a chance. He gives him grace!
He obviously witnessed Paul preaching and teaching and debating. I think it's likely that Barnabas spent some time with him and got to know the genuineness of his conversion.
I wonder if the others were even willing to do that, or if they just wrote him off without a chance. But Barnabas is the son of encouragement! So he goes to the one who seems least likely to ever come to Jesus, and he gives him a chance. Then he stands up for him, when the others are still seeing the worst in him.
I want to be a person that stands up for others and gives them grace. Gives them a chance when nobody else does.
The Irony of Grace Forgotten
The great irony about this is that years later, Paul and Barnabas - after years of successful ministry - end up splitting, because Paul is not willing to give a second chance to somebody else. We read: "Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, 'Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.' Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left." (Acts 15:36-40)
Mark messed up. Paul said "sorry, you're out". Barnabas said "give him a second chance!"
Perhaps Paul had forgotten the grace and encouragement that Barnabas had shown him when nobody else believed in him?
How sad. What great ministry they may have done together, if they hadn't split! History suggests that Barnabas and Mark worked closely together after this, and that the Cypriot Church was founded by Barnabas, where he wrote and did ministry in much the same way Paul did.
Of course, Barnabas didn't lie about Paul to the disciples, or about Mark to Paul. He didn't bring them in when they weren't willing to do what they had to do. He stood up for them because they had proved themselves willing to commit to God.
Is there somebody you need to encourage? Somebody you need to show some grace to? Somebody in your family, or at your work, who desperately needs a second chance, if you'll give it to them.
Be a Barnabas. Be a son or daughter of encouraging grace.
Barnabas stood up for the newly converted Paul when no one else would, modelling a grace that gives people a second chance. Is there someone in your life who needs you to stand up for them today?