for [Barnabas] was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. (Acts 11:24)
I was thinking today about how I would like to leave behind the same kind of legacy that Barnabas did.
A good man. What did the author Luke mean when he called Barnabas a good man?
Luke says he was full of the Spirit. I’m sure Barnabas was full of the wisdom and power of the Spirit in his life.
But I can’t help but think Luke also means that Barnabas was a man full of the fruit of the Spirit. Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. Faithfulness. Gentleness. Self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)
I think that’s a pretty good definition of a good man.
But how could he live that way in such twisted world? How could he not turn cynical or become jaded by all he saw around him?
Because he was also full of faith. Faith that God is good and that he is still in control no matter the circumstances.
How differently would this world see Christianity if they saw more Christians full of the Spirit and that kind of faith.