"But Barnabas took [Saul] and brought him to the apostles..." Acts 9:27a, NKJV.

Instant.  Microwaveable.  Just add water.  It's a modern convenience to be able to enjoy certain things instantly that in other eras or settings would normally require a whole lot more time.  It's a convenience we enjoy when our lunch breaks are short (cup-o-noodles anyone?) or our fingers and toes need to be thawed by some hot chocolate. It's a convenience we can take for granted and even unconsciously assume should apply for more things than just food.  In our instant framework, we get frustrated when our internet connection lags, when stop lights are slow, or when career paths stall.  The reality is that many things in life -- many of the most important things in life -- are not instant nor microwaveable.  One of those is community.  When it comes to establishing and enjoying meaningful relational connection, more often than not it involves a slow process of growth, even with two steps forward that are interrupted by one step backward.  Just ask Saul of Tarsus.  

Right on the heels of receiving saving grace from Jesus and uniting grace at the healing touch of Ananias (see last week's post), Saul was eager to connect with the body of Christ...but that body wasn't mutually eager.  In fact, the Bible tells us that "when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple" (Acts 9:26).  Apparently, deep fellowship with Christ-followers wasn't microwaveable for Saul fresh off of his conversion experience.  Can you imagine if Saul's story ended there in Acts 9:26?  If he showed up at church, but the greeters turned him away and locked the doors?  Thankfully, the story continues.  Thankfully God was able to use one willing individual named Barnabas, the Son of Encouragement (cf. Acts 4:36), to help Saul connect with and grow in community, even if it wasn't instant.

A RESCUING GRASP

"But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles..." Acts 9:27a

The narrative here gives the sense that Barnabas acted quickly to the disheartening rejection that the rest of the believers met Saul with.  Barnabas didn't just watch Saul walk away.  The story makes it sound like Barnabas ran after Saul and physically took hold of him.  Interestingly, the word translated as "took him" is the same word used in Matthew 14:31 to describe Jesus stretching out his hand to catch Simon Peter who just a few seconds earlier had been walking on the sea with his Master.  In other words, like Jesus saving Simon's physical life, Barnabas extended a rescuing grasp to save Saul's spiritual and relational life.  Barnabas saw someone at risk of falling away from God because of the cold response of God's family.  So he extended a rescuing grasp that came in the form of personal interest & initiative.  

Barnabas was driven by an urgent awareness about what was at stake and didn't wait for someone else to take hold of Saul.  

He saw the need and caught the disappointed newbie himself.  Barnabas's immediate, individual response reminds us that those of us on the "inside" of community can't just assume that an outsider will eventually find their way into the fold by happenstance.  Like Barnabas, we can extend a rescuing grasp to not let people slip through the cracks or lose touch because of indifference, barriers, awkwardness, or even outright rejection.

A LISTENING EAR

"And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus"  Acts 9:27b.

After Barnabas "took" Saul, he spoke up for him, vouched for him.  But more than standing up for Saul, is the reality that Barnabas actually understood Saul.  The fact that hecould declare Saul's story to others is indicative of the fact that Barnabas took time to actually hear Saul's story himself.  He took interest in what Saul had experienced, how God had worked in his life to bring him to that particular point in his life.  I've heard it said that listening -- genuinely interested, judgment-free listening -- is one of the most impactful expressions of love that a person can receive.  Can you imagine what Saul felt when Barnabas inquired about his story and actually believed him?  I imagine that the fear and rejection Saul sensed from the rest of the body of believers led him to doubt the worth of his own experience with God. 

But Barnabas' listening led Saul to feel accepted, validated, and reassured that God was truly up to something good in his life.  

When we take the step of extending a rescuing grasp of those seeking connection with community, one of the most impactful things we can do with our new friends is to simply listen, take time to invest genuine interest in what God has been doing in their lives and affirm that God has good plans for them moving forward.

INCREDIBLE RESULTS

"Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied" Acts 9:31.

Saul's experience of community as facilitated by one sincere brother in Christ resulted in relational wholeness and the building up rather than tearing down of God's purpose.  That's a big deal.  Efforts to grow relational connectedness through a rescuing grasp of personal interest and through genuine listening and affirming produce more than mere warm fuzzies in individual's hearts.  It's not just about being nice and leaving positive first impressions.  Peace results, individuals are built up.  And more than that, whole churches are revived and transformed!  Just look at how the Acts narrative connects the dots between Saul's individual experience of community and the ripple effect felt not just by the church in Jerusalem, but all throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria!  Friends, our personal efforts to extend community to one person can literally impact God's kingdom farther than we may even know!  So may we have our eyes and ears open to the one individual we can take/rescue who may need our assistance in connecting with God's family.  May we extend a heart able to listen well and affirm well.  And as a result, may God's church be multiplied beyond our count or awareness with disciples who truly walk "in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 9:31)!