Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria Grace for Living Devotional Sunday September 10, 2023 TOPIC: ENCOURAGING SOMEONE

BIBLE READING:

ACTS 9:26-30

26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. 28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. 29 And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him. 30 Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.

KEY VERSE:

“But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.” ACTS 9:27

MEDITATION:

Encouraging someone comes in diverse forms depending on the circumstance. It could mean boosting someone’s morale; strengthening a broken-heart, lifting up the weak, inspiring a fearful heart, speaking good of a person in order to allay doubts and avoid imminent rejection as Barnabas did for Saul in today’s bible text, and many more situations. When we so do, we put love into action as Apostle Paul exhorted the Galatian church (Galatians 6:1-2).

Prior to the quick intervention of Barnabas, the apostles had only known Saul as a persecutor of the church and murderer of Christians. They did not know that Saul had been dramatically transformed and his mission radically changed from a persecutor of Christ to a preacher of the same! Saul must have expected the apostles to increase his salvation excitement with their ‘love-welcome,’ but they were afraid of him for not being sure of his genuineness.

Certainly, the bubbling joy in Saul’s heart was reduced because of how the apostles reacted to him. Barnabas lifted up his dampened spirit by reassuring the Jerusalem brethren that he had been saved and boldly preaching Christ. Only God knows what Saul would have done if Barnabas was not there to encourage him! Can you resolve today to be a source of encouragement?

When did you last bring comfort to a hurting family member or church member?

PRAYER:

Oh Lord, grant me the grace to be an encouragement to someone today.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

PSALMS 136-139, 1 CORINTHIANS 14:1-19