Encouragement
The story of a wonderful Christian man called Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, is told in the New Testament Book of Acts. Once Joseph had become a follower of 'The Way', his behaviour and attitude to life touched other believers at the very centre of their faith life. It seems he had a precious ability in the way he spoke about Jesus to make people forget their petty differences and troubles and those with big problems saw a ray of hope. The words Joseph spoke ministered 'grace' to the hearers - they were built up in their faith and spiritually refreshed.
If you don't remember ever having read about Joseph before, that may be because his special talent for blessing others so impressed the Apostles that they gave him a nickname by which he was commonly called - Barnabas. It means 'Son of Encouragement' (Acts 4:36).
Have you ever bemoaned the fact that you have no obvious ministry? Did it ever occur to you that you too, could be a 'Barnabas'?
Barnabas was the first person to trust and really help Saul of Tarsus when he was a new believer (Acts 9:27). Also, when the word first reached Jerusalem that many Gentiles were becoming believers, the leaders there sent this brother to Antioch to check up and report back. When Barnabas saw what was happening was real, he was glad and exhorted these new 'babes in Christ' (Acts 11:22).
Interestingly, the words 'encourage' and 'exhort' both come from the Greek verb 'parakaleo', which can also mean to entreat, urge or warn. The noun 'parakletos' is well known from its use by the Apostle John to describe the Holy Spirit, the Comforter and Advocate, the One called alongside to help (Jn 14:26; 16:7) And this was the quality to be found in Barnabas! He could only fulfil such a ministry by allowing the Holy Spirit to fill him continually and use him. The same ability is within the scope of every born-again believer.
Encouragement is the petrol of progress in the Kingdom of God, I've heard it said. We need to spend less energy criticising one another and devote more time engaged in encouragement. Discouragement leads so easily to sin, for this is when people are at their most vulnerable and when resistance is low, both spiritually and physically.
It sounds glib to say we must refuse to allow the things which bring discouragement to have sway or ascendancy but it is at this point that we may still have some ability to choose. Once depression sets in, self-motivation fades and our options seem to diminish. Certainly, we should not allow ourselves to be discourages. Joshua and Caleb saw exactly the same obstacles as the other ten spies who looked over the situation in the Promised Land (Numbers 13: 30-33). They saw the giants as 'bread', while the rest came back with such a discouraging report: 'We became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.' Together with the people they cried, wept and grumbled, to the point of wanting to stone their leaders and return to Egypt. What a pitiful bunch?! Encourage one another while it is yet today!
Water feature, Private Botanical Gardens in Hunter Valley, NSW (2009)
If you don't remember ever having read about Joseph before, that may be because his special talent for blessing others so impressed the Apostles that they gave him a nickname by which he was commonly called - Barnabas. It means 'Son of Encouragement' (Acts 4:36).
Have you ever bemoaned the fact that you have no obvious ministry? Did it ever occur to you that you too, could be a 'Barnabas'?
Barnabas was the first person to trust and really help Saul of Tarsus when he was a new believer (Acts 9:27). Also, when the word first reached Jerusalem that many Gentiles were becoming believers, the leaders there sent this brother to Antioch to check up and report back. When Barnabas saw what was happening was real, he was glad and exhorted these new 'babes in Christ' (Acts 11:22).
Interestingly, the words 'encourage' and 'exhort' both come from the Greek verb 'parakaleo', which can also mean to entreat, urge or warn. The noun 'parakletos' is well known from its use by the Apostle John to describe the Holy Spirit, the Comforter and Advocate, the One called alongside to help (Jn 14:26; 16:7) And this was the quality to be found in Barnabas! He could only fulfil such a ministry by allowing the Holy Spirit to fill him continually and use him. The same ability is within the scope of every born-again believer.
'Encourage one another every day, as long as it is called today' (Heb 3:13)
Encouragement is the petrol of progress in the Kingdom of God, I've heard it said. We need to spend less energy criticising one another and devote more time engaged in encouragement. Discouragement leads so easily to sin, for this is when people are at their most vulnerable and when resistance is low, both spiritually and physically.
It sounds glib to say we must refuse to allow the things which bring discouragement to have sway or ascendancy but it is at this point that we may still have some ability to choose. Once depression sets in, self-motivation fades and our options seem to diminish. Certainly, we should not allow ourselves to be discourages. Joshua and Caleb saw exactly the same obstacles as the other ten spies who looked over the situation in the Promised Land (Numbers 13: 30-33). They saw the giants as 'bread', while the rest came back with such a discouraging report: 'We became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.' Together with the people they cried, wept and grumbled, to the point of wanting to stone their leaders and return to Egypt. What a pitiful bunch?! Encourage one another while it is yet today!
Water feature, Private Botanical Gardens in Hunter Valley, NSW (2009)
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