When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him. When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

–Parallel verses:
‭‭I John‬ ‭4‬:‭16‬-‭19‬
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us.

Life is like a hike in the mountains. There are tough roads that lead to peaks and other roads that lead valleys. As imperfect humans, sometimes we regress into our old mindsets before Jesus saved us. We might have had many mountaintop experiences, but when we are threatened to lose it all again, sometimes we are fearful.

The early church had to go into hiding when Saul began to persecute them and imprison them for their beliefs. They were beaten, their property and careers were stolen from them, and they were left destitute. Imagine caring for women and children who are traumatized because of the violence and wickedness perpetrated upon them. And this was all led by ‭Saul before his conversion.

So I can readily understand the fear the Apostles felt in welcoming Saul. It was palpable and real, and it was based on experience. But what they did not fully understand was the power of God to turn around a murderer and violent man to become a servant of Jesus.

Barnabas had seen Saul preach in the power of God’s Spirit. And he became a bridge of sorts between Saul and the Apostles to reconcile them together. Saul was so effective that when he debated the Jews, they seemed to come across as foolish in comparison to his knowledge. This was a threat to Saul’s life. So he was sent away for safety.

In our cross reference in I John, one of the Apostles, John, talked about fear in the comparative context of love. He starts his teaching by defining love as God and God as love. It is a pretty incredible statement. Human wisdom tells us love is a feeling that is fleeting and can change. The Bible tells us love is defined in the person of God!

So if I want to be a loving person, these two trains of thought will lead me down two very different paths: 1) If I believe the world, then I will try to control my feelings and my interactions, (my world so to speak) to only experience emotions and feelings of “love”. This worldly love might include attraction, infatuation, lust, pleasure, self-gratification, compliments, feel-good statements, escapism, etc. 2) If I believe the Bible, then in order to be a loving person, I will simply pursue a relationship with Jesus, the source of love. As I begin to model my life after the life of Jesus, my heart starts to change and I become more loving like he is loving. And my love is not dependent on how others make me feel or my emotions — instead it is based on the love I have received from Jesus.

The first love is fleeting and does not cast out fear, because the absence of love is fear. But the second love, based on a relationship with Jesus, is other-worldly. It is a spiritual love that is solid and battles the fears in our minds to overcome them.

The Apostles here showed fear of Saul, and maybe for good reason. But the love building in their hearts won them over as Barnabas presented Saul, and they were able to love this man who had hated and hunted them down.

What kind of love is this, that extends to one intent on torture, murder, destroying property and careers, and separating families? It is THE UNFATHOMABLE LOVE OF GOD!

Lord, oh how I need a bigger part of my heart to be injected with your love. This love is crazy good, and I want it to shine out of me to a world of people trapped in fear. Break my will and use me as you see fit. I am your humble servant in need of a touch from your hands of love!