Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ... Please take the time to take in images and song from Matthew West singing … Do Something … powerfully singing of how God’s people must reach out and DO SOMETHING in the Name of Christ and for His glory every time we get the opportunity.
Talking Bananas ...
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Highlight Passage : … Acts 11:22-23 [NLT] ... 22 When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw this evidence of God’s blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord.
… Barnabas encouraged the believers in Antioch to stay true to their faith in Jesus.
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Highlight Passage [context] : … Acts 11:19-26 [NLT] ... USE THIS LINK …
… Many were saved in Antioch, including Gentile, thru the encouragement of Barnabas.
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Reference Passage : … Matthew 5:15-16 [NLT] ... 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
… Jesus’ command for His disciples to shine His light in their good deeds to show others the light of God in a dark world.
Reference Passage : … 1Corinthians 15:58 [NLT] ... 58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
… Paul teaches fellow Christians that any/all we do for the Lord will be for good and His glory.
Reference Passage : … Philippians 2:3-5 [NLT] ... USE THIS LINK …
… Paul shows fellow Christians that that reaching out to help/serve others is having the attitude of Christlikeness.
Reference Passage : … Hebrews 10:24 [NLT] ... 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.
… God exhorts Christians to lift up and encourage others thru our acts of love/grace.
My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Jennifer Benson Schuldt, AT THIS LINK relates a story about a school cafeteria worker writing messages on bananas (see photo) to encourage the kids to think more highly of themselves and others.
And then the ODB author went on to compare the encouraging deeds of the cafeteria worker to the works of Barnabas in the NT (see highlight passage) when he went to Antioch and encouraged the Christians there to be steadfast in their faith, encouraging even new Christian Gentiles to do good works for one another, … sharing the love of Christ.
And that should be our attitude and actions as well, shouldn’t it? So, when a fellow reader here takes in Matthew West’s song (linked above) and the Reference Scriptures above, I pray we all go out today and look for ways to do what Jesus commanded in Matt. 5:16 or the Apostle Paul exhorted fellow Christians to do in 1Cor. 15:59 and Phil. 2:3-4. And if/when we DO SOMETHING to encourage others, we’ll be sharing the love/grace of Christ with others.
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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for exhorting me thru Your word, to go forth and encourage others today.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me, … to take every opportunity to encourage others today, sharing God’s love/grace with othes. Amen
Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.</ span>
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