It is vital in the coming days that the Body of Christ is brought into unity and proper alignment. We must not allow offense and failure to prevent us from stepping into our proper places within the Body of Christ.

This is true of individuals, and denominations, and movements and ethnic groups.

Barnabas was the first to walk out the role of reconciliation and restoration inside the Church.

He mentors, restores and heals rifts that keep people from stepping into their intended place in the Body of Christ.

It was Barnabas who was part of the Church that first brought the Gospel to gentiles in Antioch.

It was Barnabas who tracked down a dubious Paul who ‘claimed’ to have transformed from persecutor to promoter of the Good News. He brought him into the fold, reassured the church in Jerusalem, then made him a teacher in Antioch.

It was Barnabas who restored John Mark after his ‘train wreck’ in Paphos. Mark went from being rejected for Paul’s ministry team to not only being ‘useful’ to Paul but a scribe to Peter and bishop of the Church in Alexandria.

To claim Barnabas’ mantel would truly be arrogant and I will not do that. I do intend to make a start toward identifying those things that prevent us from walking together and beginning to heal the rifts.

Collectively we are the Bride. It is time we stopped being the ‘patchwork girl’ and walked with beauty and grace.