Joseph was one of the followers who had sold a piece of property and brought the money to the apostles. He was a Levite from Cyprus, and the apostles called him Barnabas, which means “one who encourages others.”
(Acts 4:36-37 CEV)
We all need encouragement. Words of encouragement can lift us up and help us to press on. In the early church, a man named Joseph the Levite knew the power of encouragement, which deservingly earned him the name Barnabas meaning, “Son of encouragement.” When the apostles didn’t believe that Paul had truly changed, Barnabas helped to convince them (Acts 9:26-28). And when he was sent to check on the progress of the new church in Antioch, Barnabas was glad and encouraged them, then he went to Tarsus to look for Paul (who seems to have been left there), and brought him along to Antioch (Acts 11:23, 25). Finally, when Paul didn’t trust taking Mark with them on their next trip because he had previously abandoned them, Barnabas was willing to give him a second chance (Acts 15:36-39). Be a Barnabas. Be an encourager.
Be an encouraging person.
Rising with the Son 