Yesterday at [our church edited out] we heard a Father's Day sermon preached called, “Who’s your Daddy?” I found encouragement in knowing my Heavenly Father desires me to be free from the slavery of sin and abide in His word as a true disciple of Jesus Christ. It can certainly be difficult to obey, to persevere and to have faith in God’s promises especially when it seems life is dealing us lemons.
Who do we have to turn to help us make lemonade? The Apostle Paul had his faithful friend, Barnabas to turn to at the beginning of his long ministry. He was known as the “Son of Encouragement” or the “Son of Rest”. So what did Paul know that we sometimes forget?
Pride and fear often get in the way of us developing truly authentic relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Paul didn’t let that happen. Pride makes us think that we can handle any situation we face on our own, that we don’t need help from others. When we stumble along the rocky path, we have a tendency to want to pick ourselves back up and ignore the outstretched hand of someone there to help. Then fear of judgment or fear of seeming dependant sets in and when we really fall hard, we are afraid to ask for help.
We all need encouragement on a daily basis. Do you have a Barnabas to turn to ask for help? Are you willing to set aside your pride and fear to ask when you need encouragement? Will you make an effort to encourage others in return and not judge them or belittle them when they ask for your advice? Trust and obey your Heavenly Father, there you will be set free from the chains of sin and be bound by the joyous chains of encouragement as a Disciple of Jesus Christ.
Posted by price at June 20, 2005 03:21 PM | TrackBack