Barnabas and Alan, Son’s of Encouragement
His name was Alan and his most outstanding attribute was that he loved his Savior. His number one vocation was sharing the gospel and his favorite conversation topic was Jesus. The best teachers are the ones who have an intimate knowledge of the subject they teach. Alan was the greatest Bible teacher I have ever known. The life he lived taught us that the Lord is our Shepherd. We need not want any more than that.
There was a man named Barnabas, he loved Jesus. His vocation was to be an encourager to his brothers in the Lord. His conversation was, You can do this with Jesus’ help, so get up let’s go. Barnabas never wrote any great books. When John Mark and the Apostle Paul were discouraged, he was there to encourage them. Today we can read Mark’s Gospel and Paul’s Epistles. Because of the encouragement of Barnabas, they learned to walk through the valley of the shadow of death. They did so with no fear. Because Jesus was there with His rod of protection and comforting staff.
Jesus commanded us to go into all the world and make disciples. Alan and Barnabas probably never considered themselves disciple-makers, but they were. Neither of them ever led a weekly discipleship group. But they both taught many to walk in paths of righteousness for the sake of the good name of Jesus.
Barnabas and Alan, Son’s of Encouragement
I don’t think Barnabas or Alan ever sought to be great in the Kingdom of Heaven. They were servants. They loved God with all their hearts and they loved their neighbors as they loved themselves. Jack McVeigh called Alan a gentle fruit tree. We can read in the Bible about the fruit that Barnabas bore for God. However, we may never know how many people Alan reached for Christ.
But I do know this, my heart was blessed by this man who was a gentle fruit tree. His name was Alan. He was my friend and encourager. Now he has walked by the still waters. He has found rest in the green pastures. He will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
“Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.
And a great many people were added to the Lord. Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”
Acts 11:22-26 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/act.11.22-25.NKJV
“Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.” Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. —
And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God.”
Acts 15:36-37, 39-40 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/act.15.36-40.NKJV
Douglas Huff
From Down Where the Pavement Ends
Email- pavementendsministry@gmail.com
My Daughter Kate was one of many young people who was influenced by Alan’s teaching. Check out her stories and writings on her website; www.kateoliviahuff.com
