June 16, 2016 | Barnabas

Pharaoh said to him, “Leave me! Make sure you never see my face again, for on the day you see my face, you will die.” [Exodus 10:28 HCSB]
Recently, a passage we were studying raised the uncomfortable reality that those who speak God’s truth will very often face harsh opposition. Powerful governments and cultures will threaten and persecute, as Jesus predicted. Yet, God’s speakers, knowing the love of the Lord for all, cannot remain silent.
While soberly considering all this, I received an email from a missionary friend – a note that captures the spirit of ambassadorship bestowed on Christians. He wrote about a friend of ours, code-named Barnabas, who has for years been a powerful force for Jesus in the Middle East:
“Barnabas went to be with the Lord on Saturday. He was 66. He is one of the few believers I know who legally changed his identity from Muslim to Christian, which is very difficult in his area [Gaza]. It made him a kafir, or unbeliever and a sure looser in the Shariah court that governed his personal affairs. He witnessed to Muslims, Christians*, Jews and Druze and baptized each of the hundreds that believed. He had numerous cars burned or wrecked. They burned his dwelling. He was fire-bombed and beaten. At least three of his believing friends were murdered. But, he kept on. He used the Book of Acts as his handbook. His only fault was giving away most of his money before paying his bills!”
Barnabas means “son of encouragement.” See why he was given that name? Whatever our situation, may we be like that.
* Note: In the phraseology of that place, “Christian” refers to a family name, not necessarily a personal relationship with God through faith in Jesus.
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