How Can We Encourage Each Other To Be The Best We Can Be?
Good Morning Friends,
For the new believer getting a hand hold on the crazy world we live in and getting a foothold to brace ourselves can seem so difficult, but in the struggle, we might be blessed to have someone encourage us by reaching out to us like Barnabas did to Paul. Here as we face the possibility of dramatically changing relationships…here as we experience fear-based rejection we too might find a helping hand of a friend offered to us with the encouraging words of acceptance, helping us to overcome a critical spirit. Today we look at how to be a better buddy. Today we ask: How Can We Encourage Each Other To Be The Best We Can Be?
Scripture: Let us therefore no longer pass judgment on one another, but resolve instead never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of another.
Romans 14:13 (NRSV)
When he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples; and they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him, 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. So he went in and out among them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. He spoke and argued with the Hellenists; but they were attempting to kill him. When the believers learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. Meanwhile the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was built up. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
Acts 9:26-31 (NRSV)
And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds,
Hebrews 10:24 (NRSV)
Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, as does Mark the cousin of Barnabas, concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him.
Colossians 4:10 (NRSV)
But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
Ephesians 4:15 (NRSV)
Message: There was only one person who welcomed Saul in Jerusalem after his conversion. Jesus was there in Spirit of course, but in the flesh, the person was Barnabas. His name means, “Son of Comfort” or “Son of Encouragement.” Maybe it was a Good cop/Bad cop strategy of the Apostles, after all Paul was the persecutor of Christians. Having a bad attitude and a negative view would not have been irrational for the Apostles. But Paul’s attitude was about to get him killed. They easily could have not cared at all. They all could have chosen an unforgiving or bitter heart. They easily could have thought that they were better than Paul. And Paul might have thought he was better as well. But through the grace given to Jesus, Paul was accepted and given the time to evaluate his own life so that he too could stop being so judgmental. Somehow they all realized that they had come together for a reason. Paul and Barnabas perhaps were both students of the leading authority of the Sanhedrin, Gamaliel and even friends with a foundation that would allow a bridge to be formed. What is clear is that Barnabas is about relationships and second chances and perhaps because of that others started to use their tongues more properly. They all realized that God does not promise peace to those who dwell on the faults of others. Barnabas and Paul would later have sharp words uttered in a burst of anger about being Jewish and interacting with Gentiles and also the choice of traveling companions, but in the end they put them aside despite their differences. Barnabas believed in Mark. Paul thought Mark too immature and perhaps too Jewish for the work of reaching the Gentiles to continue to travel with them and ultimately chose Timothy and Titus to raise up in the faith. Tradition records that Mark later traveled with Peter to Rome and recorded Peter’s preaching there. So apparently he grew up. Luke does not mention either Paul having negative opinions of Barnabas or Barnabas questioning the spirituality of Paul. Both did the work they were called to do. Their division somehow furthered the spread the Gospel instead of impeding it. Paul and Barnabas were acutely aware that the church is a community that works together as one, a communion of faith where individual differences are forged in a way that serves to strengthen and provide new opportunities, new approaches and new incentives to develop in the common work of the gospel. So today we learn that sometimes even the best leaders make wrong decisions. We begin to learn to disagree on things without bitterness or resentment. We learn that every strength has a weakness and so we must thank God’s wisdom in making us different. We learn that we need to speak the truth with love. Friends, I have heard it put like this: Being Christian is not just “Me and Jesus” it’s more correctly “We and Jesus.” Barnabas helped this happen for Paul and the leaders in Jerusalem just as Paul helped extend this relationship to the Gentiles.
Pray that we recognize when we need to play the role of a Barnabas and when the role of a Paul. Pray we find strength in diversity. Pray that when Christians disagree we bring love to the table. Pray we stop cursing the darkness and be a light. Pray we be a light of encouragement to others. Pray we be a comfort to others. Pray we allow people to grow. Pray we affirm the capability that you see in other people. Pray we point people to the opportunities not just the problems. Pray we speak prophetically to one another believing the hope of Christ. Pray we tell stories about what God is doing with our life. Pray we are committed to Christian community and relationships but not at the cost of the truth.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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