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Be a Barnabas (1)
'Barnabas ... encouraged them all' Acts 11:22-23
Being a Christian isn't always happy-clappy, warm, fuzzy feelings. Sometimes people see Jesus in you and get uncomfortable. They single you out for 'freak or unique' treatment. Having JC stamped on your passport doesn't guarantee you free passage to easy street; in fact, Jesus promises that life will be bumpy if you choose to go His way. It's always been like that.
Never mind 'Christianity: boring, untrue or irrelevant?' Early church Alpha courses would've had sessions entitled, 'Martyrdom: stoning, beheading or crucifixion?'! The first Christians were so under the cosh that God had to send them the best encouragers.
Barnabas is spoken about as the 'Son of Encouragement'. Here was a man who had a special knack for helping people back on their feet when they were feeling the pinch. Acts 11 tells us that Barnabas encouraged many to remain true to the Lord, and as the church grew he took a step back to let Paul lead from the front. What an attitude!
Barnabas saw the value of stepping out of the limelight in order to best cheer on those up front. Could you be a Barnabas? 'What oxygen does for the body, encouragement does for the soul. It inspires us to persevere when it would be easier to just quit. The truth is that you'll never look into the eyes of a single person who's not important to God. So help them' (Rom. 14:19 TM).
written by Bob Gass
'Barnabas ... encouraged them all' Acts 11:22-23
Being a Christian isn't always happy-clappy, warm, fuzzy feelings. Sometimes people see Jesus in you and get uncomfortable. They single you out for 'freak or unique' treatment. Having JC stamped on your passport doesn't guarantee you free passage to easy street; in fact, Jesus promises that life will be bumpy if you choose to go His way. It's always been like that.
Never mind 'Christianity: boring, untrue or irrelevant?' Early church Alpha courses would've had sessions entitled, 'Martyrdom: stoning, beheading or crucifixion?'! The first Christians were so under the cosh that God had to send them the best encouragers.
Barnabas is spoken about as the 'Son of Encouragement'. Here was a man who had a special knack for helping people back on their feet when they were feeling the pinch. Acts 11 tells us that Barnabas encouraged many to remain true to the Lord, and as the church grew he took a step back to let Paul lead from the front. What an attitude!
Barnabas saw the value of stepping out of the limelight in order to best cheer on those up front. Could you be a Barnabas? 'What oxygen does for the body, encouragement does for the soul. It inspires us to persevere when it would be easier to just quit. The truth is that you'll never look into the eyes of a single person who's not important to God. So help them' (Rom. 14:19 TM).
written by Bob Gass
