Acts 4:36-37

And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostle’s feet.

Acts 4:36-37

I love Barnabas, he is one of my favorite people in the bible.  Here in the Book of Acts, we see that the apostles had been ministering and they eventually gave this brother, who was always around, Joses, a nickname. And it wasn’t a nickname like “Bubba or Hotshot”, his nickname was given as a description of his heart, the kind of man that the apostles saw him as… he was an encourager.  

I wonder what my nickname or your nickname would be if the people at church were to pick one.  What do you think?  Might be flattering and it might not? 

Maybe “Mr. or Ms. Sarcasm”, “The always late kid”, “The invisible man” or maybe “Ms. Gracious!”  Well, when it comes down to it, to be called “the Encourager” is way up there!  

I don’t know about you, but I could always use some encouragement.  Seems like the apostles felt the same way.  In a world that is far from encouraging, let’s be those men and women who encourage each other by our example, by our words and being sold out to our Lord!

Seeking to be an encourager

Pastor Rich Kikuchi