Encouragement

How can I encourage others?

God’s Response

Barnabas . . . means “Son of Encouragement.” Acts 4:36

Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus and how the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them that Saul had preached boldly in the name of Jesus in Damascus. Acts 9:27

Saul (Paul) had a terrible reputation with the Christians—after all, he’d been persecuting and killing them. Then he met Jesus and his life (and his name) was changed. It was hard, however, to change people’s perception of him, so Barnabas became the bridge between Paul and others. He acted as Paul’s sponsor and helped the church leadership to accept that Paul’s faith was genuine. Like Barnabas, you can be an encouragement to others by speaking up for them when they’ve earned your trust and need your support.

This Is Promising

Encourage each other and build each other up. 1 Thessalonians 5:11