Torn up? Built up?

  
Sarah, a little girl in our church (she grew up and got married last week!) got a nickname from me:  "Eyes."   She had the most expressive, big, dark eyes.  I’ve nicknamed another friend “Sunshine” because in the dark times of illness that have come to the Scott’s house, she always brings joy that is like sunshine breaking through the clouds.  My Dad called me "Sidekick." When I was 5 years of age, I loved to be introduced to his adult friends with these words - "Meet my sidekick!" It made me feel 10 feet tall! It implied that my Dad considered me his helper.  Got any nicknames for people?

In Acts, there is a man whose nickname replaced his given name even in the Scripture text.  Luke wrote "there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means "Son of Encouragement"). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus." (Acts 4:36, NLT) Joseph of Cyprus was so loving, so concerned about needs of others, that nobody called him "Joe" anymore. Instead, they called him - "Barney" - Mr. Encourager!  Every time I read that it makes me smile and breathe a prayer – “Oh, Lord, make me a Barnabas!”

Critics abound, don’t they?  Turn on the cable news channels and you will hear a dozen opinions about how some public policy could be improved.  You seldom, if ever, hear one of those highly paid talkers say something like, “There are no simple answers and it appears that the President is working hard at a solution.”  Or, “Let’s work together to create unity around this new policy and give it a chance to work.”  Instead, they criticism, complain, and sow dissent making our nation even more divided by the day!  Churches fail when a few critics start launching verbal grenades at the leaders. They thrive when encouragers work hard to build each other up.  There can be authentic disagreement where there is unity, by the way. Encouragers do not have to lie or pretend or only say nice things.  Some of the best encouragement in my life has come from people who love me enough to tell me, “I know you can do better than that!”

Here is what the Spirit says - "Encourage one another and build each other up." (1 Thessalonians 5:11, NIV)  Christians cannot encourage from afar, or at convenient moments. They make gathering a priority. The Word directs us to "not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the Day of his return is drawing near." (Hebrews 10:25, NLT) God considers giving encouragement so important that He even made it a spiritual gift. Some people are created by the Spirit to be the coaches in the Church that  breathe life, strength, and hope into others.  "If (your gift) is encouraging, then encourage ..." (Romans 12:8, NIV)

President Theodore Roosevelt said, "It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."

Are you an encourager that lifts those who walk with you? Or are one of the legions of critics who whine about every situation and circumstance that is not exactly to your liking?

Here’s the word from the Word - "Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part. Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs. And be careful that when you get on each other’s nerves you don’t snap at each other. Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out. " (1 Thessalonians 5:13-15, The Message)

On Sunday, in our series from Acts, I will be talking more about Barnabas and how we can encourage one another. I hope to see you at Faith Discovery Church! (www.FaithDiscovery.com)

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We Will Stand

Sometimes it's hard for me to understand

Why we pull away from each other so easily

Even though we're all walking the same road?

Yet we build dividing walls

Between our brothers and ourselves.

But, I don't care what label you may wear,

If you believe in Jesus you belong with me!

The bond we share is all I care to see,

And we'll change the world forever,

If you will join with me,

Join and sing, sing.

You're my brother, you're my sister,

So take me by the hand.

Together we will work until He comes.

There's no foe that can defeat us,

When we're walking side by side,

As long as there is love,

We will stand!

The day will come when we will be as one

And with a mighty voice

Together we will proclaim that

Jesus, Jesus is King.

It will echo through the earth.

It will shake the nations.

And the world will see, see that;

You're my brother, you're my sister,

So take me by the hand.

Together we will work until He comes.

There's no foe that can defeat us,

When we're walking side by side,

As long as there is love,

We will stand!

James Hollihan | Russ Taff | Tori Taff

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