It’s All Good

[Barnabas] was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.

Acts 11:24

In his book Wind and Fire, Bruce Larson notes characteristics of sandhill cranes, which fly great distances across continents. In flight, no bird leads all the time, and only birds that can handle wind turbulence get to lead the flock. But most important, all the time the leader is breaking the wind resistance for the others, the entire flock pours forth a constant stream of affirming honks.

Whether given in the form of honks or hugs, encouragement probably has the highest cost-to-benefit ratio of any human act. Barnabas is the prototype of an encourager; we may have the Gospel of Mark today because of him.

Once, when Paul and Barnabas went on a ministry trip, they took young Mark with them—but he deserted them before the end of their trip (Acts 13:13). Later, Paul wouldn’t take Mark on a second trip, so Barnabas took Mark under his wing (Acts 15:36–40). Barnabas’s forgiving and encouraging attitude toward the young leader probably saved Mark’s ministerial life. Look around—do you see someone with potential whose world you could change with a little encouragement?

Whether honks, hugs, hollers, or hallelujahs—encouragement is all good.