When he (Barnabas) 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. And a great many people were added to the Lord.
Acts 11:23-24
So many people are carrying around too many burdens these days. Some wear it on their sleeves while others hide it in their hearts. That’s why encouragers are so attractive and desired to be around. Encouragers seem to make a difference.
Barnabas, which means Son of Encouragement, must have had a great dad. He learned from an early age how to deal with discouragement and how to make a difference in people’s life.
Look what the Scripture says about him. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And the result of that many people were added to the Lord. That’s how an encourager can make a difference.
There is so much that we can learn from Barnabas. First we need to be full of the Holy Spirit. When we are close to the Lord we are encouraged by the Lord. The Lord encourages us first and foremost. The Lord takes our burdens away and fights our battles for us.
Second, when our faith is solely in the Lord we are encouraged because we know that God in near us and for us. When our faith is strong all doubt is gone. When our doubt is gone all fear is gone. When all fear is gone there is no discouragement. We can’t help but be encouraged.
Third, when we are encouraged in the Lord people see a difference in us and they are lead to the Lord. This makes a difference in the kingdom of God. This is how we are used by God. People are watching us daily and seeing if we truly believe what we say is true. Be a Barnabas today and watch what happens around you.
Pray
Lord, help me be a Barnabas and make a difference in this world. Let it all begin in me. Thank you for loving me and giving me the free gift of salvation
