Have you had your Joy Juice today? Be an encourager like Barnabas and find ways
to lift others up as you share the joy of the Lord.
In the book
of Acts we read about Barnabas; at first, we find him selling some land to help
provide for his Christian brothers and sisters. (Act 4:36-37) They were in
severe economic need and Barnabas did what he could to help. As we read more
about him, we find that he had a giving, encouraging personality and was always
striving to exhort others and help as he could.
An
interesting fact about Barnabas is that this was not always his name. His given
name was Joseph, but the apostles gave him a nickname that stayed with him for
the rest of his life! Barnabas means “Son of Encouragement” or “Son of Exhortation”.
(Acts 4:36) What a tribute to this man…that the apostles of Christ would choose
such a name. Because Barnabas was filled with the Holy Spirit and allowed his
life to be used by God, he excelled at lifting others up and exhorting them…thus
his “new name”.
Dan Dowd
asks the question: “Was Barnabas a
perfect man? No, of course he wasn't. But God records the histories of men such
as Barnabas to show us what great things He can do through men and women who
strive to overcome their human nature and yield to Him. Barnabas lived up to
the good name others gave him, and his example is one that all of us would do
well to follow.”
Do people see you as a Barnabas? Encourage others and share the joy of Jesus!
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