Barnabas, The Son of Encouragement.....
@Zelmarq (12607)
Cebu City, Philippines
May 25, 2008 6:04pm CST
Today our daily bread website talked about Barnabas and just curious about him so I tried searching about him and learned that he is also called the Son of Encouragement. He believed that the power of the gospel to change people's hearts. He was the one who persuaded the apostles and the church in Jerusalem that Paul had been converted from persecutor to an apostle.
Barnabas was the one of the first to understand that the mission of the church was universal. The apostles sent him to strengthen the christians in Antoich.
Barnabas was that bridge builder for Saul (also called Paul). When Saul arrived in Jerusalem 3 years after his conversion, many disciples were afraid of him and doubted his transformation (Acts 9:26). He didn’t receive a warm welcome from the Jerusalem church greeters for good reason. Saul had a terrible reputation for persecuting Christians! But Barnabas, a Jewish convert, believed God’s work of grace in Saul’s life and became a bridge between him and the apostles (v.27).
Saul needed someone to come alongside him to encourage and teach him, and to introduce him to other believers. Barnabas was that bridge. As a result, Saul was brought into deeper fellowship with the disciples in Jerusalem and was able to preach the gospel there freely and boldly.
New believers need a Barnabas in their lives. We are to be a bridge in the lives of others.
2 people like this
4 responses
@vonkristoffer (833)
• Philippines
26 May 08
yes thats great you are obeying what God wants us to do.. to preach the Gospel. Yes me to i have negative feed back.. but God does not want us to force them.. we did our purpose..
just stand to this passages.. :)
Luke 6:22
Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.
Romans 2:8
But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.
1 Thessalonians 4:8
Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 4:4
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
have a blessed day! ;)
2 people like this
@Zelmarq (12607)
• Cebu City, Philippines
26 May 08
yes, my friend thank you for sharing these verses with me here. It could help me cope with the pain of being rejected when it comes to sharing the gospel to them. I pity them but I have the faith that wont give up. There are two extreme feelings when sharing the gospel, the first is the feeling of so much joy when they accpet the gospel and pain when they wont listen and wont accept Christ as Lord and saviour.
Have a nice day and take care.
1 person likes this
@vanities (11395)
• Davao, Philippines
26 May 08
i hope that i could serve as a bridge on the lives of others..its not easy to be one since some are skeptic on ones religion..but i guess the knowledge of knowing that there is God is a good sign for everyone...and the rest will follow ..
2 people like this
@Zelmarq (12607)
• Cebu City, Philippines
26 May 08
Thats a good sign that you have, meaning you are willing to be used by God for the great commision, its good to hear this from mylot. You know I have been receiving not so good comments abut the religion topic but theres no stopping me from making these discussions.
have a nice day and happy mylotting.
1 person likes this
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
28 May 08
That was kool to read about! I hadn't realized all that about Barnabas.. so he shared in all that Paul accomplished.. Encouraging indeed!
1 person likes this
@faith210 (11224)
• Philippines
26 May 08
Hi Zelmarq! As have been reflecting now in my life, I have realized that I have always been the bridge to so many people and in some ways, I have felt the happiness and peace whenever, a good relationship came out of my bridging. I am not bragging about this, I just want to release the thoughts and feelings and maybe the doubt I have now. I have always encourage a lot of my friends and families and even young people who came to me for advice and sometimes just needed someone who would listen to them. Even my hubby said so many times that I could have been a good counselor. I motivate people and I don't have to force or fake myself in doing it because I always feel the sincerity and the genuine care I have in my heart. But what is bothering me now is that now that I needed someone who would do the same thing for me, I can't find anyone. I felt so drained and sometimes I feel that why I have given so much of myself yet when I am now at the lowest point of my life, no one has the strength to pull me up. And it hurts because even though I have so much problems and being on the edge, family members and friends still come and needed me to be there for them and it is so hard to encourage them, motivate them and uplift their spirit when I am just barely breathing. But I still be there for them. I am sorry, I don't regret being there for them. I just wish I have someone like me who will uplift me the same way.
Take Care and God Bless!
