Being a Barnabas for Others

     Yesterday I was doing some staff training for some Indian young people who will be staffing a 5 month discipleship training course here in India.  As I was sharing from my experiences in discipling others, I found myself sharing a story from my own life that highlighted how we can be a 'Barnabas' in others lives at crucial times in their discipleship journey.  In Acts we are introduced to a follower of Jesus named 'Barnabas'.  In Acts 9 Saul (soon to become Paul) attempts to join up with the disciples in Jerusalem after having his encounter with Jesus on the way to Damascus, the disciples were all afraid of him.  But is was Barnabas who convinced them to accept Saul (Paul).  Some years later when Paul and Barnabas have a dispute about John Mark, Paul seems to give up on Mark but Barnabas takes him under his wings and continues to journey with Mark.  Later we see that whatever the problem was with Mark, it is resolved and he is much matured in Christ.  Barnabas was one who had a gift to see below the surface of a person's actions and call out the God given destiny of a person.  He was willing to go the extra mile even for those who didn't seem to deserve it, he just wouldn't give up on people.

  Almost 14 years ago I went to do some training in Hawaii that would prepare me for working in full time work overseas for the Lord.  The first few months of the training we were in a classroom hearing lectures and being discipled.  Then for the last two months we would go on an outreach trip and put into practice what we had learned about God and ourselves as followers of Jesus.  When I came to this training, I was still a little 'rough around the edges'.  I had only been walking with Jesus again for about 4 years.  Previously I had led a very rebellious life and become an alcoholic.  By the time I got to Hawaii I had been sober for about 2 1/2 years or so.  But two days before the outreach trip was completed, suffering from the worst craving for alcohol I had ever encountered, I relapsed.  I drank, a lot, for a whole night and my outreach team had no idea where I was. 

     I showed up the next morning still drunk and belligerent.  My outreach leaders called the leadership of our training back in Hawaii to find out what they should do with me.  Usually this kind of behavior would mean that the student would be kicked out of the program and sent home immediately.  Especially if the student was not repentant for their behavior.  At first I wasn't.  But after a little while, once I began to sober up and realize what I had done, I was horrified at myself.  I couldn't believe what I had done.  I remember sitting in the shower weeping before the Lord.  I thought I had ruined any chance I might have had to serve the Lord.  But I remembered the Lord telling me "a bruised reed I will not break" (Matt. 12:20) and "a broken and contrite spirit I will not despise" (Psalm 51:17).  He also said to me, "Get up.  Do not let this keep you down."

   After showing my repentant spirit to my outreach leaders, they phoned back to Hawaii leadership and the decision was made for me to return with the team to Hawaii for the debrief.  Once I got there I met with leadership and discussed what happened.  They were so kind and truly desired only that I would grow from the situation.  Finally the decision was made that I would be allowed to graduate with the condition that after the training I would go somewhere where there would be people to help me continue to find freedom and healing from these destructive addictions. 

   So I graduated without any issue.  I immediately went to join up with my mentors where we discerned together what the right next steps would be for me.  I ended up spending six months in a time of restoration and growth.  But finally a year later I showed up in Hawaii again and joined on the staff with the same organization that had trained me.  Eventually I went on to serve in several countries and still continue to serve the Lord today.

   I am so thankful for the many, many 'Barnabas' in my life's journey and I am pray there will be more as I am sure to make mistakes still yet.  Have you had a 'Barnabas' in your life's journey?  Have you been a 'Barnabas' for others along the way?  Feel free to share in the comments below about your experiences.