Be A Barnabas
Sunday, May 21, 2023Key Verse
“And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,” Acts 4:36
Text — Acts 4:34-37
Message
People in different cultures believe in the power of the name they bear. Ask your parents, they will definitely tell you the reason they gave you your name. Every name has a meaning and it is tied to a particular situation or circumstance. Our names are an important part of our identity. They carry deep personal, cultural, family, religious and historical connections. They also give us a sense of whom we are, the communities in which we belong, and our place in the world.
The name ‘Barnabas’ means the Son of Consolation. Yes, this Barnabas was truly a child of consolation. He was an encouragement to the early Church in Jerusalem. He was a source of comfort to other brethren. He was selfless and unselfish; he sold his property and gave the whole money for the upkeep of other believers.
Like Barnabas, you must show love, concern and care for others in the church and everywhere you find yourself. Provide a shoulder for people to lean on, support anyone facing challenges and always be a source of encouragement to others. As a Christian child, you must be a source of consolation to your parents, ministers of God in the church, teachers in school and everybody that relates with you. Be a Barnabas!
Further Reading
Acts 9:25-30
Prayer for today
Heavenly Father, please make me a source of encouragement and consolation to others.
About Author - Pastor W.F. Kumuyi
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
