Read Acts 11:23 “When Barnabas arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.”
As we continue to discover new insight into the character of Barnabas, let’s look today at how he encourages the new believers. In this verse in Acts, we see that when he arrives he notices what the grace of God had done in the lives of those who are new to their faith in Jesus. Barnabas presents a wonderful example of how to help new Christians. He had a strong foundation of faith. He ministered to them with joy, kindness and encouragement. He also took the time to teach them more about God. I particularly love how this verse says that he encouraged them to “remain true to the Lord with all of their hearts.” There are so many distractions and temptations that can threaten to pull us away from God. This reminder to remain true to the Lord with all of our hearts is essential for new believers as well as seasoned Christians. May I offer you encouragement today? May you draw closer to the Lord today so that your heart can remain true to Him and His ways. May you be strengthened in your faith today. And may you discover new ways to encourage others with joy and kindness to remain true to the Lord!