Midweek Encouragement - “Why Encourage?”

“Why Encourage?”

        ^{Sometimes I wonder why I even write PD’s Mid-Week Encouragement each week. A few of you respond every week to tell me how my God-given words have touched you when I didn’t even know what you were going through. I can only guess that some who receive this email in their inbox and simply say, “Eh! I’ll just delete that. I don’t need to hear with PD’s saying this week.” And still others probably don’t even check their email, let alone read them. So why do I write PD’s Mid-Week Encouragement each week? Because I believe a person is never more Christ-like than when a person is full of compassion for those who are down, needy, discouraged, or forgotten.}

         ^{Woven into the fabric of the book of Acts is the quiet life of a man who’s a stranger to many Christians. Barnabas, whose name means “Son of Encouragement,” was a native of the island of Cyprus. Barnabas encouraged his friends at Jerusalem who were literally “under the gun” as they faced financial and spiritual hardships. But the comforter from Cyprus gave them all he had by selling a parcel of land and donating the proceeds to the believers there.}

         ^{The next time Barnabas is mentioned is in Acts 11 as he went looking for Saul of Tarsus, an outcast because of his previous life. Barnabas stuck his neck out for that new Christian by taking him by the hand and leading him to Antioch to introduce and endorse Saul to the leaders at Jerusalem.}

         ^{Don’t you think we need the ministry of encouragement today more than ever? Maybe you’re familiar with someone in need of financial encouragement. A student away at school . . . a young couple struggling to make ends meet . . . a divorcee struggling to get her self-assurance back . . . a forgotten servant of God working in an obscure and difficult ministry? You can be a Barnabas to those people.}

         ^{Today may present you with the opportunity to encourage those who are lonely, needy, discouraged, or forgotten. This coming Sunday, why not sit beside someone you don’t know and ask God for an encouraging word, or invite them out to lunch? When so many are quick to find fault with someone else, be different. Find something good to say. Be a Barnabas!}

^{For those of you who will be in worship at the Mt. Laurel Church of God this coming Sunday, April 14, my message will be based on this Scripture:}

^{Psalm 4}

^{Pastor Dale}

Pastor Dale (PD) and Pamela his wife are honored to serve the Mt. Laurel Church of God. If this Mid-Week Encouragement has helped you, perhaps it may encourage someone else. Feel free to share this message with anyone you choose. And if you'd like to receive PD's Mid-Week Encouragement, just send an email to (kingdomguy@gmail.com) and I'll accommodate your request.