July 20, 2022 – Words of Wisdom, Laura Bailey (Christian Author)

Anything other than an intimate relationship with our heavenly Father leaves us dissatisfied, discontent and disappointed. – Laura Bailey

^“The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number became believers and turned to the Lord. News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast devotion,for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were brought to the Lord. Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for an entire year they met with the church and taught a great many people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called “Christians.” Acts 11:21-26

Companionship

St. Barnabas was a companion of St. Paul in the early ministry of the Church. He was highly regarded for his preaching and the effectiveness of his witness. It appears that Barnabas lived with the earliest Christians in Jerusalem. He was one of the first to welcome St. Paul, the former persecutor of the early Church as an Apostle. Paul and Barnabas were missionaries to the Gentiles. Traveling with them was John Mark, a cousin of Barnabas. At one point, John Mark left Barnabas and Paul but returned once some of the heaviest persecutions they encountered had subsided. Once they were together again, Barnabas wanted Paul and John Mark to continue their travels with him, but Paul fell out with John Mark–perhaps because John Mark had abandoned them at Perga. Although little is known of the subsequent career of Barnabas it appears he was still living and laboring as an Apostle in 56 or 57, when Paul wrote I Corinthians. He was believed to be martyred sometime in 61 AD.  

I tell people often that one of the most important words in this life is not “plastics” (aka “The Graduate), instead it is “relationships”. In all aspects of our lives we have opportunities to form important if not meaningful relationships – with your family, with your work-mates, with your pharmacist, your bank teller, your funeral director, the guy or gal who collects your grocery carts. In the case of Paul, Barnabas and John Mark, their individual relationships helped to spark the amazing growth of the early Christian Church. And even if their relationships did sour over time, they continued separately what they had started together – making disciples of Jesus Christ.

Always be mindful of your relationships. Cultivate and nurture them in the manner of Christ and the early Apostles. When we strive together to be in relationship with Jesus, and strive together to be in relationship with one another, our lives will truly be richer for our relationship with G-d and our companionship with each other.

Let us pray

Lord Jesus, your relationship with the Father is the relationship we are to model. Help me to find unity with all people in the same manner you and the Father were one. Amen.

Pastor Dave