Acts 11:25-26, “Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year, they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”

A famous commercial from several years back encouraged people to “Be Like Mike.” Perhaps we should start something in the church that says, “Be Like Barnabas.”

As I started penning this devotion, I asked myself: “Why don’t we talk about Barnabas more than we do?” Barnabas was quite a guy. Acts 4:36 tells us his name was Joseph, but the disciples called him Barnabas, which means “Son of Encouragement.” They saw a special quality about him that showed up time and time again in his ministry. In that same passage of scripture, we are told that he was a Levite, and in verse 37, we learn he sold everything he had and gave it to the church. Some believe that Barnabas was wealthy, so his contribution could have been substantial. He was totally committed to the Gospel.

In Acts chapter 9, after Saul’s conversion, it was Barnabas who went with him before the Apostles to defend him and tell how God was greatly using the man who had once persecuted the church. It was Barnabas who was first sent to Antioch to preach the Gospel. Acts 11:22-24 says, “Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.” Barnabas, the encourager, was a good man, full of the Holy Ghost and faith. Seeing the need for help, he went to Tarsus and brought Paul back to Antioch, where they ministered for a whole year, and many were converted.

Colossians 4:10 says that Barnabas had a cousin named Mark, supposedly the same person often called John Mark. When Paul refused to allow Mark to accompany them on a missionary journey because he had left them unexpectedly on an earlier trip, Barnabas supported his cousin. Barnabas helped Mark mature to the point that, later on, Paul recommended Mark to the church in Colossae.

Yes, I think I want to be like Barnabas. How about you?