Acts 11:23 “When he arrived and saw the evidence of God’s blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord.”
As Barnabas saw firsthand that God was blessing the ministry at Antioch, he was filled with joy. He was filled with joy because God was changing lives. He was filled with joy because God’s people were learning and growing and living like Christ, and making Christ known to others. It leads me to ask what brings joy to my heart, to your heart.
Barnabas, who is best known as the encourager, then did what he did best, and he lived up to his name and spoke words of encouragement to the believers that they might stay true or fully committed to the Lord. What an example to us as we see God at work and blessing ministries to provide words of encouragement.
Putting this verse into personal action, are you on the lookout for evidence of God’s blessings? Do you ask people to share how God is working? I encourage you to do so. As you hear how God is working in someone’s life or ministry, you are going to find your heart filled with joy!
Are you sharing with others what God is doing in your life? As Christians, we do have to balance being boastful with being humble. I would encourage you to make sure you are bragging about God, not yourself. And I would encourage you to SHARE what God is doing!! I heard a Christian leader say one time that if we don’t tell our (His) story, no one else will. I am telling you that sharing a testimony will bring joy to other believers.
While we share our burdens with one another, we should also share our blessings with one another!
Look and listen for where God is working, and share words of encouragement and experience a heart full of joy!
Continue Strong as an encourager,
And remember to DATE THE WORD