Day 181: Job 19-20; Acts 9:23-43

God gives us mentors along life's journey. I am rich, for I have had many...still do. There are some mentors I have whom I have never met in person, some who have been in heaven a very long time. Barnabas is one of them (Acts 9:27). Follow his journey through Acts. He believes in young people. He believes in those the church might hold at arms length. He believes in the second chance. He believes in risking taking someone at their word. He is a firm believer in discipling others. He doesn't mind 'playing second fiddle', in fact, he may prefer it. At the same time, he stands up without backing down when he is convinced that he is following God's direction. Check it out. When you read his name in this letter, you will see he is aptly named, 'Son of Encouragement.' We know why he encourages...he is firmly established in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, his Savior, and the Holy Spirit, his Sanctifier. Heaven knows our world needs encouragement! Thank God for such a mentor! I want to be like Jesus and I thank God for Barnabas who teaches me how I can grow in Christ-likeness by his example.