You’re Gonna Make It - Encouragement Café - February 5, 2016

You’re Gonna Make It

Café Menu for Friday, February 5, 2016

Today’s Special is:  Barnabas – Son of Encouragement

Carefully prepared just for you by your friend, Carolyn Dale Newell

Main Ingredient:

And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus.

Acts 4:36 NKJV

Entrée:

Barnabas was the unsung hero of the Bible.  We meet him in Acts 4, selling his property and giving the money to the early church.

He stood in the shadow of Paul for many years, but it was Barnabas who persuaded the apostles to accept Paul.  Paul’s reputation as persecutor of the church made these men quite hesitant to accept him.  I can hear Barnabas encouraging Paul,

You’re gonna make it!

…and he did.  Paul became one of the greatest apostles, and he wrote most of the New Testament.

Paul and Barnabas ministered together until the incident with John Mark, Barnabas’ cousin.  Mark bailed on them during a missionary trip.  Perhaps it was the treacherous travels.  

Whatever the reason, Mark headed for home, but when it came time to go out again, Mark was ready to go.  Barnabas had probably encouraged his cousin, but Paul would have nothing to do with this idea.  Paul went one way, and Barnabas and Mark went another.

Mark had messed up.  His failure was recorded in Scripture for all to see.  He would become the topic of Sunday School lessons and sermons until the second coming.  

However, Barnabas spoke encouragement to his cousin.  You’re gonna make it.  With reassurance from Barnabas and Peter’s experience on coming back from huge mistakes, Mark went on to write one of the four gospels.  He also became very vital to Paul later in life (2 Tim. 4:11).

Friend, you’re gonna make it too!

We all fail, but you can never fall so low that God cannot lift you up.  You may have a haunting past like Paul or a huge blunder like Mark.  Allow me to be Barnabas to you, reminding you that God can take your mess and make it a message.

Take Out:

Is there someone that you can encourage?  You may be the Barnabas that person needs to do great things for God.

Dessert:

Lord Jesus,

Thank You for the people in my life who have played the part of Barnabas.  Thank You for showing us the importance of some people who often stand in the background.  Help me encourage others today.  Amen.

© 2016 by Carolyn Dale Newell. All rights reserved.

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