Dear Friends,
As we go through life, we find there are some who are encouragers …and others who are not! There are some who we can walk alongside and feel our spirits being renewed, lifted; there are others who can make us feel the opposite – always discouraging, crushing our spirits, whether they mean to or not!
Yet at times, we all need encouragement. Barnabas was an encourager. The first time we meet him in the Bible (Acts 4), he had sold some land in order to help meet the needs of fellow Christian believers who were facing difficulty. His name was really Joseph but those who knew him gave him the name Barnabas which means ‘Son of Encouragement’. How wonderful to be given a nickname like that!
Barnabas was someone who was filled with the Holy Spirit, living his life with Jesus at the centre and from that flowed his ministry of encouragement. He encouraged Paul when he first became a follower of Jesus, and supported him in his ministry. He mentored and taught a young John Mark – and we see John Mark growing and flourishing under his encouragement throughout the New
Testament. As the young Church grew and developed, Barnabas was used powerfully by God – not just by what he preached, but by his words of encouragement too.
Encouragement builds instead of destroys. It makes us feel good and valued and gives a sense of worth. It helps us move forward instead of retreating broken. These are difficult times we are living in with everyone facing different struggles, and the ministry of encouragement is greatly needed. Who is it we can encourage today? Who is it God is calling us to walk beside and encourage this
week? Who is it we can encourage in their faith?
May you be encouraged by the Holy Spirit this week so that you too can be a son or daughter of encouragement.
With love,
Jane