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God’s love “believes all things” (1 Cor. 13:7, NKJV). The Greek word, “pisteuo” translated “believe” means to have faith in a person. We see this aspect of God’s love demonstrated in the life of Barnabas in relation to Paul.
When the church in Jerusalem heard news that many Greeks in Antioch, Syria, had turned to the Lord, they sent Barnabas to Antioch to verify the news. When Barnabas arrived, he saw the grace of God in the church and was full of joy. He continued to exhort the Christians to remain faithful to Jesus. Barnabas then took the trouble to go to Tarsus to search for Saul to enlist the latter’s help to build up the church in Antioch. Both of them stayed in Antioch and taught the church for a year.
After his conversion, Saul tried to associate with the disciples but they were afraid of him for they did not believe that he had become a disciple (Acts 9:26, 27). Barnabas, however, believed Saul’s testimony, and brought him to the apostles. He explained how Saul had met Jesus in Damascus and how he had preached boldly the Name of Jesus. Consequently, Saul was accepted by the disciples. Saul was later sent back to Tarsus, his hometown, after the Greek-speaking Jews sought to kill Saul when he disputed with them (Acts 9:29).
Barnabas “was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith” (Acts 11:24). He saw the potential in people’s lives. He moved in step with the Holy Spirit to bring Saul out of obscurity to be effective for Christ. Little did he know that the Holy Spirit would later command the church in Antioch to “set apart for me Barnabas and Saul” for His work (Acts 13:2). Barnabas and Saul (Paul) subsequently formed a powerful partnership for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
It takes love to believe in the best of every person. Paul had been a very potent enemy of Christ, going all the way to persecute Christians. Yet, Barnabas, “which means Son of Encouragement” (Acts 4:36) went beyond the outward evidence to draw Paul into the fellowship, and then, to greater effectiveness for Christ. Let us be ever ready to believe the best of everyone, and seek to bring out the best in each other to serve our Lord Jesus Christ.
