Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | April 15, 2011

Covenant Copy-Cat: Bringing Others into the Band of Fellowship

Today’s devotion comes from Acts 9:19-31 which covers the beginning of Saul’s preaching after his conversion and how the disciples were afraid of Saul, and not quite trusting of him, because of Saul’s recent previous persecution of them.  Here is a link to this Scripture –

 
We will focus on the following verses 21, 26, 27, and 31.
 
“21  All those hearing him continued to be amazed, and were saying, “Is this not he who in Jerusalem destroyed those who called on this name, and who had come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?”
 
…
 
26  When he came to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. 
                              
27  But Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus
                                    
….
                        

31  So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.”

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I love Barnabas!  His actual name was Joseph.  The apostles called him Barnabas (which translated means Son of Encouragement).  Acts 4:36.  What a wonderful recognition!

And here, we see Barnabas acting consistently with his name.  Barnabas took hold of Saul and brought him into the band of fellowship of the disciples. 

There are those like me who are a little different and are on the fringe outside of the band of fellowship.  But, there are those who encouraged me and encouraged those within the band of fellowship to bring me in the  band of fellowship.      

This Scripture for today gives me a glimpse of the covenant.  In a nutshell, the covenant is God’s plan of salvation wherein God unconditionally elects certain people for salvation and brings them within the band of the family fellowship of the Holy Trinity.

We are called to imitate our Father in Heaven.  “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?  Do not even the tax collectors do the same?  “If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others?  Do not even the Gentiles do the same?  “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”  Matthew 5:45-48.

Let us copy Barnabas.  Let us copy our Father in Heaven.  Let us encourage others.  Let us bring others within the band of fellowship.

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