| Good morning everyone, Our theme for this month: “Christian community” Our Bible verse for today: “Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus by birth, the one the apostles called Barnabas (which is translated Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.” Acts 4:36-37 (CSB) Our thought for today: “Be Barnabas” Barnabas is one of my favorite people from the New Testament. He was such a positive, uplifting, encouraging presence to other Christians that the apostles actually nicknamed him “The Son of Encouragement”. What a great reputation to have! I’ve written before of how, back in the 1990s, my wife and I owned a book company called “The Barnabas Book Company”. Our motto was, “Encouraging books that will change your life.” I think I also mentioned that I was a terrible businessman. I was so eager for people to read our books that I gave away more than I sold. Obviously, that was not a sound business practice. I got a little carried away trying to be like Barnabas in terms of being generous as an effort to encourage others. But what a great thing it would be if our Christian community today included more people like Barnabas. How much healthier our churches would be if more of our members were sons and daughters of encouragement. What if we were all less concerned with finding fault and nitpicking at others, and more concerned with lifting-up our brothers and sisters and offering words of encouragement and blessing rather than criticism or complaint? I once heard a church referred to as “A house of joy.” I love it! Does that describe your church? And if not, what are you doing to change things so that it is a house of joy? And not just in church. What if Christians were known out in the world as being sons and daughters of encouragement? What if our reputation was as people who speak words of encouragement and blessing and who routinely bring sunshine and hope into dark and dreary situations? I want to encourage all of us to be more intentional about blessing and encouraging rather than criticizing and complaining. Be a son or daughter of encouragement. Be Barnabas. God bless, Pastor Jim (Join us at Oak Hill Baptist Church every Sunday at 10:00. Join us in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you are a shut-in, join us online at http://www.YouTube.com/oakhillbaptistcrossville) |
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