Acts 4:36

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

As the apostles were ministering, they gave this brother Joses a nickname, and it wasn’t “Hot Shot” or “Skippy.” His nickname was given as a description of his heart, the kind of man that the apostles saw him as, he was an encourager.

People get nicknamed for various reasons, maybe because of their physical attributes or their personalities. And based on what the apostles visibly saw in Barnabas in the way he treated his family and others, the words that he chose to use in conversations between services, the faith that was manifested during the tough times, they called him the encourager.

You might ask yourself….”I wonder what my nickname would be if the people at Morningstar were to pick one?” What do you think? Would it be flattering or not?

When it comes down to it, to be nicknamed “the encourager” is way up there. That’s what the apostles saw in his life and that is what I hope others see in our lives.

Seeking to glorify Him,

Rich Kikuchi