And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.
Compare this report with Simon's. There the people saw and were amazed; here they did not see and were terrified for they remembered the Saul of old. It took the testimony of someone whom they knew and trusted to verify the evidence of transformation.
My 60thhigh school graduation was two years ago. I didn't go, but I know there were classmates who remembered the 18-year-old John. Not a pretty picture! A weekend together was not going to convince them that I was anything else other than a proficient actor. And they knew that.
We all need our Barnabas, or a span of life consistently lived for the Lord's glory.
Today's readings in the Psalms:
Morning: Psalm 111
Mid-day: 119:89-96
Evening: Psalm 37
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"Voices Together" is available as an annual daily devotional and can be purchased at theFellowship Of Ailbe bookstore.A weekly edition, formatted as a bifold insert and suitable for distribution can be downloaded at https://www.ailbe.org/resources/item/7251-2016-voices-together-weekly-format. The next edition is available by Thursday of the prior week.
