In Acts 9:27 Barnabas is seen encouraging the great evangelist Paul. Paul, who was originally Saul of Tarsus, had made a name for himself persecuting and killing Christians. After his radical conversion experience, Paul went right to work preaching that Jesus was the Son of God but many Christians were understandably suspicious of his motives. However, Barnabas befriended him and even took him to the apostles in Jerusalem for an introduction. Next, we read of Barnabas encouraging new believers in Antioch. He was described as a good man, confident in the Holy Spirit. Many people came to belief with his help. During this time, Barnabas went looking to find a floundering Paul.  He brought him back to Antioch, where they worked together for several years.

Later, Barnabas stood up to Paul in defense of a young disciple, John Mark who had failed Paul’s expectations on an earlier missionary journey. Paul wasn’t going to take a chance for another failure, letting nothing get in the way of his priority of spreading the gospel. Paul went on his own way and because of this, Barnabas went another, taking the wounded John Mark under his wing. His objective was encouraging and building a future leader in the church.

If each of us in my home – or your home – had a nickname that described our character, what kind of names would we have?  Quarrelsome?  Argumentative?  Devious?  Lazy?  Helpful?  Kind?  Encourager?  Think of names for members of your family.  What would yours be?  Would your names portray a Happy Family?  If these names followed our children for the rest of their lives, would that make us happy?  How do we help our children develop characters that lead to happy families?  Remember that you and I are the best teachers and mentors our children will ever have.  As we live, they will live.  Are we jealous, suspicious or always finding fault in others?  Or are we like Barnabas who worked to build others to be successful men and women of godly character?

Nadie es perfecto – ni lo son nuestros matrimonios. Al trabajar juntos para mantener nuestro amor y un matrimonio fuerte, nuestros hogares se convertirán en el ambiente perfecto para criar a niños felices.