Scripture
25Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul. 26When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.) Acts 11:25-26
Observation
Acts 4 introduces us to the Apostle Joseph. You don’t know of that Apostle? That’s because no one called him by his real name. They called him by the fruit of his life and how he made everyone feel when they were around him. Barnabas means “son of encouragement. “ The life of Barnabas reveals three ways we can build a bridge to those on the outside through encouragement.
Encourage through timely provision- at the birth of the church Barnabas sold some land he had and gave it to help the Jews who were displaced due to persecution for their faith in Christ. Generosity towards those in need. (Acts 4:33-37)
Encourage through prophetic perspective- Paul was a man without place. The religious establishment he used to work for saw him as a traitor and the Jewish Christians didn’t trust him as far as they could throw him. It was going to take someone who could see from both sides and see ahead into the future. Someone to stick their neck out. Someone to get on the very edge and put down the first plank of trust. Someone to build a bridge. That Someone was Barnabas. (Acts 9:26-28)
Encourage by simply being present- Never underestimate the power of presence. God went out of his way for us and calls us to the same for others. Barnabas went out of his way to encourage the church in Antioch and he invited Saul to participate in what God was doing. (Acts 11:19-22)
Application
The Word encouragement is from the French coeur: It means to put “heart” our courage into someone. Nothing build’s a bridge to Jesus like the gift of encouragement. In fact, it’s a ministry we are all called to. “10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:10-11) Wouldn’t it be great if, in a very discouraging culture, Christ followers had a reputation of encouragement? This isn’t going to happen automatically. As Christ and Barnabas modeled, we are going to have to plan to be inconvenienced. No one builds a bridge accidentally. The Greek wording for Barnabas looking for Saul describes the intentional process "to seek up and down , back and forth, to hunt up, to make a thorough search until success comes". This morning I’m journaling with Mike Pomeroy. He drove from San Marcos to Oceanside to journal to build a bridge of relationship with some of our young adults. From the very first day I met Mike he has been a Barnabas to me and everyone around him. He has a passion for finding those on the fringes and inviting them into the family of faith. Whether it's building connections across generations, cultures or just across the street this is our calling! The world needs more men and women who are driven to build bridges to those who find themselves on the outside looking in. They don’t need us shouting over our fences, but instead coming alongside them and making a way back home.
Prayer
Lord, I want to thank You for men like Mike in my life that remind me I’m not here for me or what’s convenient to my schedule. I’m here to build a bridge of encouragement to those who have seen Your church as more of a wall than a bridge. Help me to see those who have lost courage around me and go out of my way to meet them where they are at. Thank You for the voices of encouragement You have put in my life that keep me going when life get’s hard. Help me to be the same to others.
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