MAY 19
Bible Reading: Acts 11
Acts 11:23-24, “When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.”
Encouragement, noun: the act of giving courage, or confidence of success; incitement to action or to practice; incentive.
Webster’s Dictionary 1828 Edition
Barnabas was an encourager. A Jew from Cyprus, his given name was Joseph (Acts 4:36). But the apostles renamed him “Barnabas” (i.e., “son of encouragement), which served as an apt description of him and his ministry.
He is first mentioned in the Bible in Acts chapter 4. Many Jews were dislocated in Jerusalem. They had traveled there for Pentecost from faraway places. They remained there after their conversion to Christ and needed help with food and shelter. The earthly church responded: “There was not a needy person among them for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need” (Acts 4:35). Likewise, Barnabas “sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money” (Acts 4:37). Imagine how those early believers must have been encouraged through the loving sacrifice of people like Barnabas. Barnabas would later similarly serve in a “relief effort” to meet the needs of those suffering through “a great famine” (Acts 11:27-30).
Some of those believers that were scattered as a result of the great persecution preached the gospel in Antioch. “A great number who believed turned to the Lord” (Acts 11:21). The church in Jerusalem sent Barnabas there. And in Antioch, Barnabas worked to encourage the new believers “to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose” (Acts 11:23). He needed help in his ministry, so he “went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch” (Acts 11:25-26). Together, they spent “a whole year” teaching “a great many people” (Acts 11:26). Together, Barnabas and Paul encouraged those believers in the Word of God (Romans 15:4).
The Christian life is often compared in Scripture to a race (1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Hebrews 12:1-2; Philippians 3:14). There is a need to run the race with endurance. The runner is confronted with many distractions, diversions, and discouragements (Hebrews 12:1-2). Imagine the scene. Christians running side-by-side all headed to the same goal. But some fall behind and others collapse. Some are weighed down by sin, and others are entangled by life’s distractions. Too often fellow runners pay no heed to their struggling companions. They carelessly run past them, step over them, or even kick them when they are down. But that’s no way for a Christian to behave. God would have us instead to lovingly assist and encourage each other along the way.
God would have us all to be like Barnabas. We all have need of encouragement and God is well-aware of that. The Holy Spirit is the ultimate encourager. He is called the “Helper” (Greek “parakletos,” “one called alongside to help”; John 14:16). The Greek word for Barnabas’ moniker, “son of encouragement,” is akin to that given to the Holy Spirit. Being filled with the Spirit, Barnabas functioned in his ministry as the “hands of the Holy Spirit.” He directed others to look Christ-ward, and to the hope bound up in Him. By the Spirit, Barnabas encouraged others such that they were better off in Christ.
God exhorts His people to encourage one another. By the Spirit they do (Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7). There is a good chance you have someone in your life who is even now desperate for some loving word or deed by which they might be encouraged in their walk with Christ. There is plenty of encouragement to be had in Him (1 Thessalonians 5:18; Hebrews 12:1-3). We all, like Barnabas, are called to be “encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:25).
Be on the lookout for an opportunity in your day in which you can encourage someone along the way!
Out in the highways and byways of life,
Many are weary and sad;
Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife,
Making the sorrowing glad.
Make me a blessing, Make me a blessing.
Out of my life may Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray.
Make me a blessing to someone today.
LookingtoJesus 