But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze on him, and said, "You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to make crooked the straight ways of the Lord? Now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and not see the sun for a time." And immediately a mist and a darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking those who would lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord. Now Paul and his companions put out to sea from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia; but John left them and returned to Jerusalem. (Acts 13:9-13 NASB)Until this time, the character of Saul has followed everyone else in lists. He was listed with impressive people, but while fade into obscurity, his name changes and suddenly everyone's hanging around him. The timing is before a Roman proconsul with the same name, Paul, and as Saul/Paul confronts a false prophet. From then on his name is Paul.
But the change is without fanfare or comment on the change. Saul aka Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, gazes at the false prophet. There's no comment on the connection between the names (it seems to be euphonic only). The companions of Paul travel from Paphos to Perga. There's no explanation of why Barnabas is no longer taking point, or why it's not "Paul and Barnabas" at this point. Paul seems to have eclipsed everyone.
I notice a few things here that I find interesting. First off, there's no record that Barnabas has a problem with this. This guy has been a true encouragement all along, and now he sees a "protege" of his taking flight. Well, something like that perhaps. For whatever reason, it seems that he is willing to relent, to give up that prime position without a fuss. It may not have even been an issue really, just felt like a natural progression. But does it mean anything that Barnabas is from Cyprus; that he sells a field from there? It doesn't seem to.
I suppose that these changes that my Master brings about are to be acceptable to me as well. Like Barnabas, I should be willing to take a one-down on issues, be willing to fade into the background. This week I have had to eat a bit of crow, and I have to admit, I didn't like the taste. The way I could have avoided it was to just let things be, or at least ask around before assuming I knew what was happening. I was prideful and in a hurry. Barnabas does not seem burdened with that problem. He's not really in a hurry, and he does not seem prideful.
I mention this because I believe that my Master has given me both the gift and the task of encouragement. I am constantly amazed at how ineffective such a gift is when I full of myself. It actually works in reverse and I discourage. So I myself am naturally discouraging, but my Master has gifted me in an area I am naturally weak and given me the job of encouraging. So, like Barnabas, I am to be an encourager. Like Barnabas, I am supposed to build people up. But like Barnabas, that's not going to happen if I don't take the time to shed my pride and take time to be present with those I am called to encourage.
If I want to stand back and watch a "Paul" emerge onto the stage, I have to be willing to stand back. But even before that, I have to be willing to go through the transition from leading and guiding to following and supporting. If I'm not willing to do that, I'm never going to see what my Master will do with the amazing people with whom I serve. I have to be willing to go from zero to hero, but also from hero to zero. It must be my Master who designates who and for how long he makes the hero. It is my job to submit to His designation for however long He designates.
Pardon me, I think I heard the oven ding. My humble pie must be finished. Gotta go, it's breakfast.
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