Dare to Be a Barnabas

Daily Scripture Threshing for Today, Saturday, October 17, 2026

Today’s Text: Acts 4:36–37; 9:26–28; 11:22–26; 15:36–41

Key Verse: Acts 9:27 (KJV) — “But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.”

In an age of suspicion when the church still doubted the standing of notorious brother Paul, standing between the fearful church and the newly converted persecutor was a man who dared to believe that the grace of God could make an enemy into a brother. His name was Barnabas, the “son of encouragement or consolation,” Paul’s missionary companion, and a generous believer who sold his land and placed the proceeds at the apostles’ feet. His encouragement was more than pleasant speech; he had hands that gave, a heart that welcomed, and courage that stood beside others. Some people enter a room and remind everyone of their limitations; others enter and help them recognize the possibilities of grace. God wants us to be like Barnabas: to dare to strengthen trembling hearts, to recognize the work of God in unlikely people, and to make your life a place where others find courage to continue.

When a Paul came to Jerusalem after his conversion, the disciples were afraid of him and did not believe that he was truly a disciple. Their fear had a history; the man seeking fellowship had once persecuted the people of the Way. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, presenting the testimony of his encounter with Christ and his bold preaching in Damascus. He did not pretend that Paul had no past; he helped the church see that his past was not the whole story. Where fear saw only the persecutor, Barnabas made room for the evidence of a changed life. Dare to be a Barnabas: dare to stand beside the genuinely repentant, to speak truthfully for those who cannot yet gain a hearing, and to refuse to imprison a person forever within the record of yesterday.

Barnabas brought a beautiful spirit into Antioch — when he arrived and saw the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged the believers to remain faithful to the Lord with purpose of heart, for he was “a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith” (Acts 11:24). He did not try to make himself indispensable in a flourishing church; instead he went to Tarsus to seek Paul and brought him to Antioch, where they taught together for a whole year, making room for another man's gift without fearing that it would diminish his own. During the difficult matter of John Mark, who had departed from them in Pamphylia and failed to continue in the work, whom Paul wisely declined to take again, Barnabas was determined to give him another opportunity — leading to Paul taking Silas and Barnabas taking Mark to Cyprus. We do not celebrate the division, but we honor the heart that knows a past failure does not have to be a final verdict. Dare to make room for restoration, joining compassion with responsibility that help a stumbling servant take faithful steps again.

Encouragement is not the denial of weakness; it is the willingness to help another person move beyond it. Barnabas stood beside Saul when his past made others afraid, and he stood beside Mark when an earlier departure made another opportunity uncertain. In both situations, he offered something more demanding than applause: he offered his presence, his advocacy, and his willingness to share the work. Not every believer will preach to multitudes, but every believer can help someone remain faithful. The kingdom needs people who proclaim the message, and it also needs people who strengthen the messengers. Dare to be a Barnabas: dare to notice the overlooked, to encourage the discouraged, and to become the faithful companion through whom another person finds courage to serve Christ again.

Action Steps: Identify one new believer, discouraged servant, overlooked colleague, family member, or repentant person who needs encouragement rather than another reminder of past failure. Speak a specific word of hope, offer practical help, or make an appropriate introduction that opens a door for faithful service. Where trust has been damaged, encourage honest accountability and patient rebuilding rather than hurried assurances. Choose one deliberate act of encouragement this week, and ask God to make your presence a source of strength rather than suspicion.

Quote for the Day: “Encouragement does not erase yesterday’s failure; it recognizes a willing heart and helps them rise to be tomorrow’s faithful witness.” — (Simon Olatunji #quotablequotes)

Let Us Pray: Heavenly Father, make me a son of encouragement in a world where many hearts are weary and many voices are quick to condemn. Give me discernment to recognize Your grace, courage to stand beside the genuinely repentant, and patience to help the stumbling grow in faithfulness. Deliver me from jealousy when others flourish and from pride when others fall. Teach me to speak words that strengthen, to give help that restores, and to open doors through which others may serve You. Let my life encourage someone to believe again, rise again, and remain faithful to Christ — in Jesus’ most glorious name. Amen.

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Thank you for threshing the Word with me today. For further study on this topic, please read: Acts 4:32–37; Acts 9:26–30; Acts 11:19–26; Acts 13:1–13; Acts 15:36–41; Galatians 6:1–2; 1 Thessalonians 5:11.

With all my love and prayers,

Simon Wale Olatunji, Ph.D.

Your Darling Bishop (DaBishop)

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