Barnabas
By Jeff Lucas
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About this ebook
Wherever he went, and whoever he talked to, Barnabas left people feeling better as a result. How many of us can say the same about ourselves? In these studies on the life of Barnabas, you will find examples to follow, lessons to learn, and an approach to life that all of us would do well to adopt.
Bible Daily notes are written by Jeff Lucas to help you apply the lessons of God’s Word daily. Each day and with each devotion, Jeff uses his signature wit and wisdom to reveal insights and practical application you can use in your own life. Each Bible devotion takes only a few minutes to read, but the lessons learned can last a lifetime.
Jeff Lucas
Author and speaker Jeff Lucas travels internationally in a ministry of Bible teaching which carries a specific vision to encourage and equip the church. Jeff is the author of twenty-two books, as well as a number of study guides, booklets and a DVD teaching series called ‘Life Journeys”. Jeff’s books have been translated into French, Italian, Korean, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese and German. He writes a monthly column for Christianity Magazine.He broadcasts three weekly radio shows. Jeff and Kay live in Loveland, Colorado, where he holds a teaching post at Timberline Church, Fort Collins.
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Barnabas - Jeff Lucas
CONTENTS
Introduction
1. The Encouraging God
2. Encouragement and Strength
3. Remember God’s Encouragement
4. God Encourages through People
5. A Good Habit
6. Thoughtful Encouragement
7. Meeting Together
8. Mutual Encouragement
9. Encouragement Commanded
10. Rebuke and Encourage
11. Legacy
12. A Background of Service
13. No Big Conversion Story
14. An Anatomy of Encouragement
15. A Bridge Person
16. Generosity
17. Quiet Bravery
18. Risk and Courage
19. Taking the Initiative
20. Listening
21. Believing in Others and Speaking Up for Them
22. Trustworthy
23. Seeing Grace
24. No Petty Rules
25. Grace and Suffering
26. A Good Man
27. Full of the Holy Spirit
28. Outrageous Grace
29. Trusted with the Money
30. Finishing and Beginning
31. Available through Prayer and Fasting
32. Better Together
33. Not Nice
34. What Do We Leave Behind Us?
35. Refusing to Be Prejudiced
36. Not Giving Up
37. Grace and Poison
38. The Time Comes
39. Surviving Applause and Honor
40. Fickle People
41. Paying the Price for Encouragement
42. Our Story
43. Authentic Encouragement
44. Accountable
45. God with Them
46. Mission Undermined
47. Carriers of Grace
48. Paul and Barnabas
49. Not Superman
50. A Sad Falling-Out
51. A Special Bond
Note
Introduction
It’s a personal detail that I’ve never gone public with before, which is amazing: most of my foibles and gaffs have been shared for the entertainment and (hopefully) edification of the wider Christian public. The confession concerns a nickname I was tagged with when I was just sixteen.
Here goes. As an enthusiastic member of the local Army Cadets Corps (you can call me Sergeant Lucas—my squad did, and I wore three stripes on my arm), I was nicknamed after a part of a gun. The SLR rifle has a metallic component beneath the barrel called the gas plug. I have a somewhat indented nose, a deviated septum. And so I was tagged Groove in the Gas Plug
because I am blessed with a beak that apparently looks like the end of a dangerous weapon.
There. I feel so much better for sharing that.
Over the next couple of months we’re going to look at a man who also had a nickname, one that I envy. Barnabas had a very distinctive feature—he was a great encourager and so was dubbed Son of Encouragement.
We’ll be looking at this warm, wonderful man and considering, not only the power of encouragement, but also how this virtue is rooted in the character of God—which might come as a surprise to some. Thanks for joining me. I haven’t thought about that lengthy gas plug
nickname for years. So call me Jeff. It’s shorter and a little more encouraging.
Day 1
The Encouraging God
Psalm 10:17
Romans 15:4–5
It’s a wonderful memory I have of my father. Rendered speechless by a massive stroke, he was unable to communicate with words but wanted to let me know he was proud of me. His old face broke into a broad smile, his eyes shone, and he patted me on the back—an elaborate, theatrical pat that left me in absolutely no doubt he was very pleased with me indeed.
Scripture reveals a God who is the greatest encourager of all. Those who suggest that Barnabas is the Bible’s most encouraging character are wrong—that description belongs to God alone. But many of us struggle to picture a God who is delighted by our efforts, who cheers us on as the ultimate source of all strength and encouragement. The notion of an encouraging God seems almost too good to be true. And some of us live tortured lives because our view of God is anything but encouraging. We see Him as a relentless taskmaster, never satisfied, always demanding more, no matter how hard we work or what sacrifices we make. We call Him Father but respond to Him as if He were a tyrant. Perhaps we have this twisted picture of God because of our own upbringing or experiences of harsh preaching. Some of us have been bruised by earthly fathers and now the idea of a loving, encouraging God seems impossible for us to grasp. Perhaps you’re feeling exhausted and driven, and you think that God is the reason for your weariness. If that’s the case, you might