I was reading in Acts 9 recently. Acts 9 is the story of the conversion of Saul. When the chapter began Saul was “was breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples.” [verse 1].
All that changed when Saul met the Lord Himself on the road to Damascus. That meeting left him stunned and blind. Then two things touched my soul as I read through the chapter. There were two simple words and an act of encouragement that changed the life of Saul, the church, and the world.
The two words are in verse 17. God instructed a disciple named Ananias to go to Saul as he sat in the house of Judas on Straight Street. Ananias was reluctant at first to go, after all he had heard about this Saul of Tarsus and had probably seen some of the devastation he was wreaking on the church. Yet in obedience he did go, and when he got there the first words he spoke were, Brother Saul. What comfort must have flowed into Saul when Ananias began with Brother Saul.
Later in the chapter Saul traveled to Jerusalem and tried to join the apostles and disciples there, but they were afraid of him and wouldn’t have anything to do with him. And then it says, “But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles.” [verse 27]
“But Barnabas.” Barnabas, whose name means son of encouragement, became the connection that Saul needed to be accepted by the church. In later chapters those two would be matched again in a missionary tour which will bring the Gospel in greater measure to the Gentiles.
Two very simple things changed everything.
Beloved, it doesn’t have to be big things that change people’s lives, the church, or the world. It can be just two embracing words, and a small act of encouragement.
