ACTS 4:36-37
Imagine your name being changed due to the fact that you have become so popular because of your actions – and people now choose to give you a nickname, like “Good Man.” Suppose that nickname becomes so pronounced that people who hear about you do not even know your real name again.
That was exactly what happened to Joses.
Luke, the author of Acts, introduces us to this Levite from Cyprus in chapter four, explaining that he was renamed Barnabas. Depending on the Bible translation we read, Barnabas is said to mean “son of encouragement,” “son of consolation” or “son of exhortation.”
Luke never again referred to him as Joses, but as Barnabas (more than twenty times in the book of Acts). The apostle Paul referred to Barnabas about five times in his epistles, but never for once mentioned his real name.
Clive Calver once wrote a book titled, ‘With a Church Like This, Who Needs Satan?’ A hard hitting truth, perhaps slightly unfair title, but one that captures the shock many people feel as they discover how much discouragement there is within the Church today.
Jesus called us to love, not criticise and discourage one another. If people are encouraged, they are more likely to flourish and become more receptive to genuine correction.
Encouragement builds confidence. Barnabas encouraged the church at Jerusalem (Acts 4:36-37), encouraged the new believers in Antioch (Acts 11:22), brought Paul along to work in Antioch (Acts 11:25-26), accompanied Paul on his first missionary journey (Acts 13:2-3), and took on Mark as mentoree when Paul refused to continue working with him (Acts 15:37-39).
If Barnabas had not encouraged Paul, Christianity would have probably silenced one of the greatest witnesses to the Christian faith, as many were afraid of relating with a former persecutor (Acts 9:26-27). If he had not encouraged John Mark, Paul who did not want him at a point would not have found him profitable later (2 Timothy 4:11).
Many people may only realize a portion of their potential because they were subdued through the discouraging actions and words of others where they would have flourished under encouragement.
Lord, grant that the gospel which Barnabas preached by his acts of encouragement may be faithfully proclaimed by our words and deeds – in Jesus’ name. Amen!
