We Need a Barnabas!

We need a Barnabas, because we are stained by sin. The apostle Paul started as the Christian killer Saul. But God intervened. God intervention,however, was not enough for the church. The Bible says that when he came 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 (Acts 9:26)." You cannot blame them really. His reputation preceded him. Maybe he was tricking them in order to kill more of them.

But in the crucial moment Barnabas stepped up. He put himself and his reputation on the line and "took him and brought him to the apostles (v. 27)." When everyone else was afraid of who he used to be, one man was embraced who he could be in Christ.

We need a Barnabas, because our sin makes us suspect to some. And that is when a brother or sister in Christ embraces and encourages us. We need a Barnabas, because we are not perfect.