Fellowship Builds Bridges
“James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas
the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me.”
Galatians 2:9 (NIV)
Ananias, the Christ follower who prayed for Saul to receive his sight, would be a microcosm of the skepticism felt at large by the early church toward a newly converted Saul of Tarsus. Was his conversion genuine? Could he be trusted? Wasn’t he the one who approved Stephen’s stoning? How could we let a man like that in our fellowship? What if it’s all a trick? Better to be safe than sorry. No doubt that was the consensus of the church at the time. The Bible says, “When he (Saul) came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple.” Acts 9:26 (NIV)
But God would not let that fear remain! Just as he led Ananias into Saul’s life to place his hands on him and pray for him to see, be filled with the Holy Spirit, and baptize him, so God led another Christ follower by the name of Barnabas to break down the barriers that would have hindered the fellowship of the church. In verses 27 and 28, the Bible tells us how God used Barnabus to build a bridge through fellowship. “But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.”
Fellowship builds the bridge of connection and removes the barriers that divide us. Barriers like mistrust, fear, bitterness, jealousy, and painful past mistakes. Grace enables us to begin again. Fellowship fosters that new beginning with reconciliation, mutual respect, and acceptance! Saul needed the church, and the church needed Saul. He and Barnabas would later lead the first missionary journeys of the infant church as it stretched its borders from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth.
Do you have a Barnabas in your life? Someone who stepped in when everyone else stepped out. Someone who believed in you and saw the potential in your life. Someone who would build a bridge to connect you with others and replace the skepticism with trust. In his own words when writing to the church in Galatia, Paul said, “James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me.” Galatians 2:9 (NIV)
I question whether they would have done that without the support of Barnabas. We all need a Barnabas in our lives. Perhaps, even more personal, we need to be a Barnabas. Who is there in your world that needs a friend? They need someone to believe in them. They need someone to connect them with others and make them feel accepted and loved. Real fellowship builds bridges. Offer someone the right hand of fellowship this weekend and bring them to church or your life group.
Prayer:
Thank You, Lord, for the people in my life that have been like Barnabas to me. They have connected me to Your path and encouraged me. Show me those I may help in the same way. Use our fellowship to break down the barriers and build bridges of hope and acceptance.
Another important part of your daily devotional is spending time with God in prayer. The Woodlands Church Prayer Board lists prayer requests submitted by our members and provides a way to send them some encouragement by using a button on the page to let them know that you prayed for them. Whether you use the Prayer Board, or pray from your heart, the goal is to build the habit of incorporating prayer into your quiet time.
Need prayer yourself? Let us know by submitting a prayer request on the Woodlands Church Prayer Board.