Sons and Daughters of Encouragement

“A word of encouragement during a failure is worth more than an hour of praise after a success” (unknown)

This image of the little girl catcher transported me back to my “glory days” as a catcher. My coach discovered my talent (not allowing many balls pitched, not even wild pitches to pass me) but I had a serious failing.  I could not throw the ball accurately to second base, and was nicknamed “shot putt” which described precisely the way I threw.  But the encouragement, support and confidence in me displayed by my coaches and teammates made all the difference to my success. In retrospect I would entitle them “sons and daughters of encouragement”. 

In the Bible, Joseph nicknamed Barnabas “the son of encouragement” like my coaches and teammates via encouragement, support and confidence were influential in the lives of the Apostle Paul (the author of thirteen Epistles)  and John Mark (the author of the Gospel of Mark)  when no one else believed in them. 

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. ²⁷ 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. 

Acts 9:26-27 (NIV)

Paul failed to convince the disciples that he was a genuine follower of Christ, but Barnabas “the son of encouragement” became a mediator for Paul and gave him his moral and spiritual support, then he was accepted. 

There are new converts that the Lord has brought into our lives who need us to be “sons and daughters of encouragement” to them and give them the moral and spiritual support they need to mature in their Spiritual Life.  

Will we allow the Lord to use us in this way, or will we just let them fall by the wayside?

Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” ³⁷ Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, ³⁸ but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. ³⁹ They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,…

Acts 15:36-39 (NIV)

John Mark accompanied Barnabas and Paul on their first Missionary journey but failed to complete the trip.  Barnabas the “son of encouragement” supported and encouraged him by sacrificially giving him a second chance.

Many soldiers are wounded in the Lord’s Army, will we allow the Lord to use us in their healing process or will we let our wounded soldiers die?

Barnabas’ encouragement and support was so powerful in the life of John Mark that he eventually was commended by Paul as one of his fellow workers. 

Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. 

2 Timothy 4:11 (NIV)

Let’s Be like Barnabas “sons and daughters of encouragement”, a much-needed attribute today in these times of uncertainty.