When I was in Mexico recently, I attended the staff meeting at Comunidad Mosaico, a ministry that works toward transformation among the urban poor. They had a time of worship, and due to my poor Spanish skills, I understood very little that was going on. But I felt the movement of the Spirit among them and I got this sense from the Lord that these people were Barnabases.
Now, I think Barnabas is one of the most important people in the New Testament, but he gets almost no recognition. He probably wouldn’t even make most people’s top ten list. But I outlined for the people at that staff meeting the significant role that Barnabas played. He came alongside Paul, got him embraced by the apostles. He took up the cause of John Mark. If we take Paul and Mark out of the equation, how much of the New Testament wouldn’t even be written?
“If you really succeed and do your job well as a Barnabas,” I told them, “few people will even know about you. Everyone else will get the credit, but you’ll be the ones who really made a difference by empowering them.” Many had tears in their eyes as they considered this vision.
This reminds me of a quote I recently read: “Preach the gospel, die, and be forgotten.” I believe it was the Moravian, Count Zinzendorf. The Count is another great example of someone who empowered and encouraged others to spread the gospel despite the fact that he didn’t end up with much of history’s lime-light. It seems like that’s how he wanted it. Blessings Sir!
Barnabas has been my hero for a long time. I love the fact that his nickname is “son of encouragement,” a word that has the same root as the word John uses to describe the Holy Spirit…a word that involves a lot more than a pat on the back. Barnabas literally put his life and reputation on the line in order to encourage the ministries of Paul and John Mark. Thank you, Bob, for reminding us to look for and strengthen potential leaders.