Acts 4:36, “Joseph, a Levite and native of Cyprus, who was surnamed Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement.)” (AMP)
My friend Alan lives in Colorado. And if it’s one thing anyone who knows about me knows, I absolutely love Aspen, Colorado, in particular. Another favorite of mine is also the season of Fall. And with Colorado having so many trees, you can only imagine how breathtakingly beautiful it looks in Autumn. Well, my friend Alan, although he loves his home state, is not exactly a huge fan of the trees or the Fall season! You see, one of the good things about Alan’s yard is all the huge, beautiful trees he has. However, one of the really bad things about Alan’s yard is all the huge, beautiful trees he has…especially in the Fall! The problem is, his town requires the bagging of leaves, so they had the exciting challenge of raking and bagging over 100 bags every single year! And as the kids left home, one by one, guess what…Alan’s labor force dwindled to one. And take a wild guess as to the one who was left with the responsibility of raking and bagging all of those leaves? Yep, you guessed right, Alan!
Well, one day Alan was out there raking away – The Lone Raker. And suddenly an angel arrived in the yard. Well no, actually, it was his eight-year-old next door neighbor, Sandra. But in Alan’s book, she must have been an angel! Why? Because she said she wanted to help, and help she did. She raked, she bagged, and then she said, “Any time I hear you raking, I’m going to come over and help!” Alan said ‘this girl must wear specially tailored sweaters to cover up her huge angel wings!’ Well as Sandra was going for another bag, she told Alan why she’d come to help him rake and bag. She said, “My parents told me that my name means ‘Someone Who Helps’, so I’m always trying to do what my name says I’m supposed to do, help.” I don’t know about you, but I absolutely love that! Someone who lives up to their name!
In doing a little research on Sandra’s name, I actually learned that it’s Greek, and means “Helper of Humanity.” I for one can attest she lives up to her name and represents it quite well!
Now, the girl next door has been named Helper, and she’s living up to her name. And truth is, most people usually do live up to the names they’re called…for better or worse. Acts chapter 4, verse 36, the Bible identifies a man who will become a trusted and important leader of the early Christian church. It calls him “Joseph, a Levite and native of Cyprus, who was surnamed Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement.)” (AMP) Well, later we see Barnabas go into action when the Christians are trying to decide how to handle the most notorious convert they had – Saul of Tarsus; the man who until recently had been the number one persecutor of the followers of Christ. But now he had met Christ.
Here’s what Acts 9:26-27 says, “When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.” (NIV).
Barnabas introduces Saul and opens the door for him to the apostles. Here’s the Son of Encouragement putting an arm around a new believer and giving him a chance when no one else would.
With that said, I wonder how much better our homes, churches, jobs, schools and communities would be, if only we were more like Barnabas? If we encouraged, included, supported, defended and helped others. Instead of joining the critical clan in competing, comparing, and criticizing. And truth is, Saul had a lot against him, and he was the one who put all of it against himself. No one made him do the things he did. He was a horrible man. Yes, that was his truth. But Jesus changed him, therefore who had the right to judge his change? I personally believe we spend too much time talking about who and what someone was, that we miss out on all the great things they’ve become and accomplished since. I mean if your daughter was a straight D student, and then sought out help with tutors, and put in extra hard work, to now become a straight A student…would you continue to throw her past D’s in her face? If your spouse wasn’t as attentive the first 5 years of your marriage, but has been the last 5 years of your marriage, do you hold the first 5 years over their head forever? If they weren’t growing, but now they are, do you keep watering their past weeds, or celebrate that they’ve gotten rid of them? They’re better this year (2020), but do you keep them mentally imprisoned in year (2000)?
Just as you deserved a second chance (and that’s putting it mildly, because we’re all on the minimum chance number 1,000,000,000,000…clearly you get the picture), so don’t they deserve the same chance? What if people locked you into the person you used to be? What if they kept throwing in your face your drug and alcohol abuse; your adultery; your fornication; your babies out of wedlock; your 2 baby mama’s and 3 baby daddies; your lying; your stealing; your gossiping; your repossessions; your 4th closed church; your pink slip; your cussing; your prison record; your recovery relapse; your foreclosure; your unemployment; your 3rd marriage; your overeating; your abortions; your promiscuous ways…would that be acceptable?
What if they continued to throw in your face when you lived in a filthy one room apartment; when you had no money, no food, and no one to help or love you…would that be acceptable?
No, it wouldn’t be, and you wouldn’t like it one bit. Therefore, do unto others as you would have them do unto you. If you were redeemable, remember that so is everybody else, no matter what they did, who they were, or where they came from! Jesus died for ALL, not just for the ‘acceptable few!’
That’s why I love Barnabas’ response to Saul. Knowing who he was, what he did and where he came from, STILL when he brought him before the people, he spoke of who he is NOW! Why not allow today to be the day you treat others likewise. Stop speaking of their THEN, and speak of their NOW, because you have no idea what great things God can still do for them in their LATER.
That’s the story of Barnabas’s life. In Acts 11:23 we’re told that the believers (who were almost all Jewish at this point) weren’t sure how to respond to the news that Gentiles were coming to Christ in Antioch. Guess who they sent to check it out? “They sent Barnabas,” it says. “When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord.” What did he do? “Encouraged them all,” what else would you expect from Mr. Encouragement? He Always Represented the Name Whereby He’d Been Called…Do You? Selah…
Let’s read the text in full: “Those who had been scattered by the persecution triggered by Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, but they were still only speaking and dealing with their fellow Jews. Then some of the men from Cyprus and Cyrene who had come to Antioch started talking to Greeks, giving them the Message of the Master Jesus. God was pleased with what they were doing and put his stamp of approval on it—quite a number of the Greeks believed and turned to the Master.When the church in Jerusalem got wind of this, THEY SENT BARNABAS TO ANTIOCH TO CHECK ON THINGS. As soon as he arrived, he saw that God was behind and in it all. HE THREW HIMSELF IN WITH THEM, GOT BEHIND THEM, URGING THEM TO STAY WITH IT THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. He was a good man that way, enthusiastic and confident in the Holy Spirit’s ways. The community grew large and strong in the Master.Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul. He found him and brought him back to Antioch. They were there a whole year, meeting with the church and teaching a lot of people. It was in Antioch that the disciples were for the first time called Christians.” (Acts 11:19-26 MSG)
How phenomenal of a leader and believer is Barnabas? Not only does he exemplify leadership, but also character, integrity, credibility, accountability, and encouragement. And does he take any credit for himself? Absolutely not! In fact, he goes looking for Saul (the one no one wanted to include, encourage, support and help), and he had him to join him in the work of strengthening the church. In a place of persecution, their work for the Lord prospered for the people. It’s in this setting in which disciples are first called Christians, in the midst of one man who simply encouraged all! One man who simply lived up to his name!
Then to take it a step further, later, when Barnabas and Paul have a disagreement on a young missionary named Mark, it’s Barnabas who takes a chance on this young man who actually flunked out as a missionary and he disciples him into leadership. The point’s obvious. Just like Sandra next door in our opening story, Barnabas became what he was called; he did what his name indicated he would do. Sandra helped, Barnabas encouraged. What are you supposed to be doing? Are you doing it?
Example: Daniel means ‘God is my judge’; David means ‘beloved’; Ruth means ‘friend’. And each lived up to their names, but so did Achan whose name means ‘trouble’. What name are you living up to?
Think about it: Do the people around you remember and probably act out the names that they’ve been called growing up? You know as parents I think we forget the power of our words sometimes to make our children feel very big or very small. We call them lazy, or stupid, or rebel, or not good enough. And chances are, that will imprint the tape in their heart and mind and it’ll play back their whole life! Think of how that affected you and how even as a grown up, maybe you’re still playing back those old tapes of what mom or dad said; grandma or grandpa; that sibling; aunt; cousin; coworker; boss; pastor; teacher; coach; neighbor; friend; ex-boyfriend or girlfriend; spouse etc… People have a tendency to become what you call them, much like many of us have had the hurtful experience of becoming what others called us.
For instance, in counseling, there are so many terms that come up that I absolutely detest. Things like: “you’ll never be nothing because your daddy wasn’t nothing”; “you act just like your no good mama”; “his daddy went to jail and he’s on his way just like him”; “her mama got pregnant at 16, just wait and see, the way she act and dress, she’s gonna be just like her”. Those kinds of words, names and labeling are easy to attach, but never are they so easy to detach from! Which is why we should be ever so careful how we label people. Stop calling them: “mean, rude, nasty”, don’t label them with what you wouldn’t want to wear on your own back.
That’s why it’s so important to consistently call people what we want them to become; caring, unselfish, helper, listener, creative, smart, accomplished, better, changed. Even when you see just a flash of a great trait, tell them how much that means to you and others. Celebrate their every improvement, no matter the size of it.
In addition, even our mates tend to become what we call them; our friends and family; the people we minister to. And it’s important to water what you want to grow with positive strokes and sincere praise. Remembering that Proverbs 18:21 admonishes: “Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.” (MSG). So look for the beauty in each person in your world and speak the beauty, even when you see the ugly. Romans 4:17, “…God who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.” (AMP). Our words are powerful, impactful, creative and life giving, we just have to Choose to use them Wisely! Therefore, no matter how bad it looks in their life, speak good by faith until it manifests! Look for the gifts they have; for a spark of what they could be if someone would just fan that spark into a mighty flame. What you’re really doing is helping a person see the masterpiece and workmanship God made when He made them; the make-a-difference person that Jesus can make them.
Now, as for all of us as believers, we are called Christians. But are we living up to that name? ‘Christian’ in and of itself is defined as ‘a person who has received Christian baptism or is a believer in Jesus Christ and follows His teachings; someone who lives Christ-Like.’ And that term ‘Christ-Like’ is defined as “resembling or showing the Spirit of Jesus Christ.” And “resemble” is defined as “to have a similar appearance to or feature in common with.” Its Old French Origin “resemble”, from Latin “similare”, from “similis” literally means “like”. And if someone were to ask if YOU live your CHRISTIAN LIFE, CHRIST-LIKE, what would be your HONEST response?
After all, Jesus was and encourages us to be:
“Loving” (John 13:1, “It was before the special religious gathering to remember how the Jews left Egypt. Jesus knew the time had come for Him to leave this world and go to the Father. He had LOVED His own who were in the world. He LOVED them to the end.” (NLV);
“Joyful” (John 15:11, “I have told you these things so My JOY may be in you and your JOY may be full.” (NLV);
“Peaceful” (Matthew 5:9, “Those who make PEACE are happy, because they will be called the sons of God.” (NLV);
“Kind” (Ephesians 4:32, “You must be KIND to each other. Think of the other person. Forgive other people just as God forgave you because of Christ’s death on the cross.” (NLV);
“Forgiving” (Luke 23:34, “Then Jesus said, “Father, FORGIVE them. They do not know what they are doing.” And they divided His clothes by drawing names.” (NLV)
“Fair” (Matthew 7:12, “Do for other people whatever you would like to have them do for you. This is what the Jewish Law and the early preachers said.” (NLV)
“Compassionate” (Mark 1:41, “Jesus put His hand on him with LOVING-PITY. He said, “I want to. Be healed.” (NLV);
With that said, if you were accused of being a Christian (Christ-Like), would you be found guilty…or innocent of all charges and characteristics?
I’m personally very thankful for my friend Alan’s neighbor Sandra and for her parents who named their daughter Helper. She was becoming what she’d been called, and you know what? That could happen to the people around you as well. So be sure you call them what Jesus would call them.
You know in preparing this, I thought of Benjamin, when his mother birthed him and what she called him: Genesis 35:18, says “With her last breath, for she was now dying, she named him Ben-oni (Son-of-My-Pain), but his father named him Ben-jamin (Son-of-Good-Fortune).” (MSG) Can you imagine what people can turn out to be if we call them (not by the past, not by the hurt, not by their failures or mistakes, not by their sin or short-comings, not by their experience, not by our mood or attitude), but by what they can actually become! Benjamin went from being the son of pain, to the son of good fortune, and all because one person refused to allow him to wear a label he was not to be called by! You have the power to change what someone’s been called the same way! Just speak well of them and what they will become!
In fact, a name was so important to God that He even changed Jacobs name: Genesis 35:9-10, “God revealed himself once again to Jacob, after he had come back from Paddan Aram and blessed him: “Your name is Jacob (Heel); but that’s your name no longer. From now on your name is Israel (God-Wrestler).” (MSG) If God can change Jacob’s name, He can change yours and theirs!
Don’t get stuck on how they behave, conduct themselves, what they say and do. Don’t get stuck on their past, their failures and mistakes. Don’t even get stuck in their personality flaws. Because truth is, we ALL have issues, flaws, mistakes and a past. Remember what the Bible admonishes: 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, “Don’t you realize that this is not the way to live? Unjust people who don’t care about God will not be joining in his kingdom. Those who use and abuse each other, use and abuse sex, use and abuse the earth and everything in it, don’t qualify as citizens in God’s kingdom. A NUMBER OF YOU KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT, FOR NOT SO LONG AGO YOU WERE ON THAT LIST. SINCE THEN, YOU’VE BEEN CLEANED UP AND GIVEN A FRESH START BY JESUS, OUR MASTER, OUR MESSIAH, AND BY OUR GOD PRESENT IN US, THE SPIRIT.” (MSG) Therefore, BEFORE you call, name and label Them…remember…the Bible says: “…A NUMBER OF YOU KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT, FOR NOT SO LONG AGO YOU WERE ON THAT LIST…” Don’t Remember What They Were, and Forget What YOU Were! After all, you don’t want anyone going through the dirty laundry of your past, so stay out of the hampers of others! You are now Clean, so call them Clean too, after all it is the SAME Savior and Word that Washed and Cleansed You Both!
Today let’s start by behaving by the name in which we are called, Christians, who live Christ-Like. Let today be the day we exemplify the fruit of the Spirit that is supposed to be dwelling on the inside of us, or so we say. Galatians 5:22-25, “But the fruit that comes from having the Holy Spirit in our lives is: love, joy, peace, not giving up, being kind, being good, having faith, being gentle, and being the boss over our own desires. The Law is not against these things. Those of us who belong to Christ have nailed our sinful old selves on His cross. Our sinful desires are now dead.If the Holy Spirit is living in us, let us be led by Him in all things.” (NLV)
Lastly, I thought of Jabez. The Bible says in 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, “Jabez was a better man than his brothers, a man of honor. His mother had named him Jabez (Oh, the pain!), saying, “A painful birth! I bore him in great pain!” Jabez prayed to the God of Israel: “Bless me, O bless me! Give me land, large tracts of land. And provide your personal protection—don’t let evil hurt me.” God gave him what he asked.” (MSG) In this instance, his name wasn’t changed, but he prayed to God to change what his name represented. He would go from pain, to God’s personal protection. Likewise, for those of you who have spent years struggling and hurting with the names and labels that have been attached to you, the best thing to do is go to God. And like Jabez, despite what They called you (even when it’s family…Selah!), God can still bless you! God is your Maker, so never settle for wearing a Label He didn’t Design for you!
You have been called Christian. You have been called to be Christ-Like. Today, Remember Who you represent, and Whose Name you represent, and Live Up to It! And while You do so, make sure you give that same opportunity and grace to Others as well! Everyone deserves a second chance and a fresh start no matter what they’ve been called by name: liar, cheat, thief, bastard, no good, loser, failure, drunk, stupid, etc.
Which reminds me of a quote that says, “The devil knows your name, but calls you by your sin. God knows your sin, but calls you by your name.” (Author Unknown).
And what new names has God given you? 1 Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a [special] people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies [the wonderful deeds and virtues and perfections] of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (AMP).
God doesn’t call you any less, so make sure you don’t call others any less.
Never Forget, We Are Called to the Ministry of Reconciliation, Not Retaliation! 2 Corinthians 5:16-20, “Because of this decision we don’t evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don’t look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. WE’RE CHRIST’S REPRESENTATIVES. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. We’re speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you.” (MSG)
We are God’s Representatives, so let’s make sure that we live up to all His Name Represents! After all, we are Called Christians, after Christ, so shouldn’t we behave Christ-Like (in word, deed, attitude, lifestyle)?
Genesis 1:26-27, “God spoke: “Let us make human beings IN OUR IMAGE, make them REFLECTING our nature so they can be responsible for the fish in the sea,the birds in the air, the cattle, and, yes, Earth itself,and every animal that moves on the face of Earth.”God created human beings;he created them GODLIKE, REFLECTING GOD’S NATURE.He created them male and female.God blessed them:“Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge!Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air,for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth.” (MSG)
This is who we are called to be and what we are called to do. Let’s represent this well! Let’s represent His name well. Let’s represent well the name we’ve been called.
“Whether you realize it or not, people are watching you. Even in small areas, make sure you’re representing God in a great way.” (Author Unknown)
“We are citizens of a different Kingdom, ambassadors representing Christ in a foreign land.” (Randy Alcorn)
“We are called to be ‘ambassadors of Christ’ (2 Corinthians 5:20). Ours is a ministry of reconciliation. To be an ambassador for Christ means above all to invite everyone to a renewed personal encounter with the Lord Jesus.” (Pope Francis)
“You have the right to do a lot of things, but you have the responsibility to represent Jesus well by loving others.” (Author Unknown)
“If I’m going to represent God I have to do it the best I can.” (Cliff Richard)
“Don’t spend your life trying to be someone else. No one has ever walked the planet who can represent God the way you can.” (Lisa Bevere)
“Wherever you are you represent the Kingdom of God.” (Author Unknown)
“I play to represent God, something bigger than baseball.” (Albert Pujols)
“The God who speaks with utmost integrity must have messengers who represent Him well.” (Haddon W. Robinson)
“You are placed on this earth to represent God. Make sure you do a good job.” (Elizabeth George)
“God calls each of us individually and corporately to represent Christ to the world, but our independence, pride and individualism often prevent us from becoming unified in the work of the Kingdom. When unity takes place among leadership in the Body of Christ, the Lord will respond by pouring out the Holy Spirit and His anointing on His people. We will see more fruitful evangelism, genuine signs and wonders, and an impact on the nation we never thought possible.” (Pastor Mensa Otabil)
“Everywhere you go, if you’re going to call yourself a Christian, you’re representing God.” (Joyce Meyer)
“God specifically created us to be like Him. This is impossible to wrap our minds around, but God created us like Him in some respect and then set us in the midst of this world to represent Him.” (Francis Chan)
“God doesn’t call us to mediocrity. He calls us to a greater standard that doesn’t teach us to tear people down to reach Him, but to lift others up. Be the type of person that when people walk away from you, they know Who you represent.” (Shannon L. Alder)
“I don’t live in this world to give my opinion. I’m here to represent the Word of God.” (John MacArthur)
Much Love, Dr. Shermaine #EnjoyTheRead #BeInspired #BeEncouraged #BeEmpowered #BeChallenged #ShareTheWordFeel free to also join us at: http://www.selfcarewithdrshermaine.blogspot.com Today’s Lesson: “15 Exercise Tips For People With Type 2 Diabetes”
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