Today’s Reading: Exodus 21; Exodus 22; Psalm 12; Acts 4
Scripture: Acts 4:36-37
36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.
Observation: Barnabas, what a guy! I love this guy. He appears later in Acts as an advocate for a certain outcast, a man by the name of Saul. Before Barnabas, Saul was held in great suspicion as the cruelest persecutor of the Church who with the help of Barnabas became the greatest proponent of the Church. Here, he sells some property he owns and donates the money to the church.
Application: Goodness in good people always surfaces and finds a way to express itself. Those kind of folks always seem to let their goodness shine. (By the way, this is true for the badness in bad people too -- unfortunately.) And notice Barnabas had a nickname, "Son of Encouragement!" What a great nickname, and apparently, he lived up to it. This is the kind of man I want to be, a man whose goodness always comes through and who others find to be a source of encouragement.
Prayer: Lord, help me be like Barnabas.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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