How do you influence the people around you?

Each of us needs role models. That is true whether we are young or old, and it is true whether we are experienced or new in faith. Not much is reported about Barnabas in Acts. Yet what God’s Word mentions about him is remarkable. It motivates and spurs us on to have a positive influence. That was true of Barnabas among believers. He is truly a role model worth imitating!

God’s work moves forward despite difficulties

As in some countries today, there was intense persecution early on. It affected Christians in Jerusalem who had come to faith (see Acts 8:1). Many of them were scattered from Jerusalem into other regions. Yet through them, a strong missions movement began. It spread all the way to Syria.
The gospel is now proclaimed to the Gentiles by Greek-speaking Jews. In this way it reaches Antioch, about 450 km from Jerusalem. There the first assembly was established in Antioch, independently of the apostles’ work in Jerusalem.

Unity is put into practice

The news of the Lord Jesus’ work in Antioch soon reaches the assembly in Jerusalem. They then send Barnabas who was asked to find out about the awakening in Antioch. The believers in Jerusalem show interest in God’s work in Antioch, which is a beautiful practical proof of the unity of God’s children (see Ephesians 4:1ff). This is not about officially recognizing the local assembly in Antioch. It is about the connection between local assemblies.  They support one another.

Barnabas had often distinguished himself as a “son of encouragement” and “encourager” (see Acts 4:36). This time as well, he is the right servant. He visits the young believers in Antioch, and he encourages them and points them to the Lord Jesus. He does not travel to Antioch to examine them critically, nor does he aim to identify common ground in their gatherings. Instead, his gaze is on the grace of God (see Acts 13:43). That grace had clearly been at work in Antioch.

Barnabas sees the grace of God

Barnabas sees what God had worked in these former Gentiles and sinners. They had come out of darkness into God’s marvelous light (see 1 Peter 2:9)! He does not first see the city’s catastrophic moral condition, nor does he focus on problems in the assembly in Antioch. Surely not everything was perfect there either. Barnabas himself lived by God’s grace. So he had the right perspective on others.

What do we see first when we meet other believers? We may know their weaknesses and faults. Or we may meet them for the first time. Have we not often seen the negative first? And have we not stopped there (see Philippians 4:8)? We want to gain an eye for what God has done in His grace; we also want to see what He is still doing, and we want to gratefully acknowledge all that is good (see Philemon 6). Yet we do not want to overlook what is against God’s thoughts.

Barnabas rejoiced

With Barnabas we see no envy. We see no critical reservations nor resentment toward the Christians in Antioch. He can rejoice in what God had worked through other servants in the believers he is now meeting for the first time. That requires real humility and love (see 1 Corinthians 13:4; Philippians 2:3)! Can you sincerely rejoice in what God produces in your brothers and sisters in the faith, even if you are not involved at all?

Barnabas encouraged everyone to remain with the Lord with purpose of heart

God’s work in others does not lead us to “put our feet up”. It leads us to serve, like Barnabas did. It helps grace shine even more in our fellow believers. We learn that Barnabas keeps the center of faith in view. That center is the Lord Jesus Himself! He exhorts and encourages the Christians in Antioch. He urges them to make a decision in their hearts. They are to remain with the Lord and go forward with Him (see Proverbs 4:23).

“Everyone,” meaning every child of God, needs encouragement and exhortation at times. They need it to truly remain with the Lord and to refocus their life of faith. Where do we personally stand in our discipleship right now? Am I staying close to Him? Let us be used for spiritual growth and benefit to others. Let us become encouragers like Barnabas!
In the next article about Barnabas, we want to see what happens next in Antioch. We also want to see him work with Paul. Together they teach the young Christians in the Word of God.