Another chance

Scripture: Acts 9: 26-28b “When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the believers, but they were all afraid of him.  They did not believe he had truly become a believer!  Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus and how the Lord had spoken to Saul.  He also told them that Saul had preached boldly in the name of Jesus in Damascus.  So Saul stayed with the apostles....”

 

Observation:  Saul’s conversion was so radical, even the cream of the believers in the centre of Christianity at the time didn’t believe it!!  It took Barnabas, the “son of encouragement”, to take a risk, meet with Saul (no-one else apparently had the courage) and facilitate the meeting between Saul & the apostles - as well as do the speaking on Saul’s behalf - before Saul could begin to receive the opportunity that he needed to prove himself and so start to operate effectively for the Kingdom.  This was the pattern of Barnabas’s ministry – he even disagreed sharply with Paul later on over whether Mark deserved a “second chance”.  It seems to me that Barnabas was the champion of those needing a second chance.  Barnabas, I believe, was discerning – I doubt he would have been given a hearing by the apostles on Saul’s behalf had they not trusted his judgement – but I also think that, once he was convinced of the genuineness of the case, he would stick with & defend that person to the end! 

 

Application: Here is a man – albeit a “minor character” in the scriptures – worth emulating!  Like his Heavenly Father, the “God of the Second Chance”, giving others a second opportunity seems to be Barnabas’s heart.  Do I have the same heart?  Will I “wipe people off” because of their past mistakes and ungodly attitudes?  Or will I give them a second chance (once they’ve indicated repentance), to show they have learnt from their errors & are now able to be effectively used of the Lord?  That’s what the apostles did for Saul.  Like Barnabas, though, the “opportunity-giver” needs discernment, courage, & faithfulness.  Perhaps these are the qualities the Lord wants to develop in me.

 

Prayer:  Dear Heavenly Father, Thankyou for showing me Your heart towards all of humanity, for You are the God of the second chance.

Thankyou for Barnabas’s example of the qualities needed to be a giver of a second chance to others.  I ask that you will help me to develop those qualities as I become more like your Son.  In Jesus’ name  Amen

 

 

 

 

 

Sue Otto