News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.

–Parallel verses:
‭‭Romans‬ ‭6‬:‭17‬-‭18‬
But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

We have all heard of some people who like to move into a new position, where things are already good, and put their own stamp on it. I have seen this in management throughout my career, and it usually does not work very well. Why? Because most of the time the new executive is looking to make a name for him/herself. They want the credit and accolades that go along with success in this world. We see this with all kinds of professions and in all kinds of relationships.

What Barnabas does here is fairly rare to find in this world and it is a model for how to encourage God’s work in others. First, he acknowledges that it is the grace of God that accomplished the surge in Christ-followers in Antioch. He took no credit himself, nor did he try to implement new rules or programs to gain control, power, or recognition.

Second, instead of focusing on petty things, such as irritations or cultural differences (like what food to eat or worship music preferences), he focused on encouraging them to devote their whole hearts to the Lord and his service and to continue in this manner.

Paul tells us in Romans what this transformation looks like: They were slaves to sin and could not break free from the spiritual, emotional, and physical chains their master held over them. But once they accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, they became slaves to righteousness! This new master set them free to obey the truth and live life full of the Spirit of God — a life of complete honesty and unconditional love.

And the Christian ranks swelled under Barnabas’ leadership in Antioch. The followers of Jesus, in large part, planted the flag of allegiance to Christ, and laid down their earthly desires, pleasures, and ambitions to become subservient to the righteousness of God in the power of Jesus.

Lord, thank you for the huge impact Barnabas had by being humble, giving you the credit, and encouraging and coming alongside those who were seeking the truth. He called them to be all-in, sold-out Christians, fully devoted to you. This is what I desire to be too. Help me to lay down the things of this world which will not last, to gain the things of your kingdom which will last forever into eternity!