(Picture from wittybizgal.com)
‘Son of encouragement’- that was the name given to Barnabas. His character encapsulates the theme of my thoughts.
Everybody needs some form of affirmation. I guess it is a human thing. The only thing is that no one should be hung up on seeking approval from every nook and craning just for the sake of affirmation and encouragement.
Jesus Christ is the only example of perfection known to man. He had a perfect self-image and seemingly needed no affirmation from anyone. How I want to be like Jesus! He was fully aware of himself and needed no human being to define him.
However it is key to understand that Jesus Christ being The Word of God in human flesh was in constant communion and communication with His Father, he had his need for affirmation met by The Father. His father made sure he knew how much He loved him and how crucial his assignment was to the God-head, heaven and earth. On the day Jesus was to be baptized in water by John, a voice rang out from Heaven, the Father affirmed His son by speaking out – This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased. (Matt. 3:17). That is a huge statement, and in fact the entire Gospel in my opinion is founded on this declaration. That was good enough affirmation for Jesus to run with, such that when the devil came – like he came to Eve and Adam – in the next chapter to test his understanding of His identity, Jesus was ready to respond to the spirit of doubt and unbelief.
I think all Dads should learn a great lesson from God about taking the time to affirm and encourage our kids – natural or adopted.
I think everyone needs some encouragement and we all have the responsibility to be an encouragement to someone. However, if there’s no one there to give the encouragement, I have learnt to look inward like David, drawing from the Spirit of God to encourage myself. I got to do what I got to do. I have to keep on going.
The bottom line is that God’s love and commitment to His children never wanes. He has loved us with and everlasting love.
“This is the way GOD put it: “They found grace out in the desert, these people who survived the killing. Israel, out looking for a place to rest, met God out looking for them!” GOD told them, “I’ve never quit loving you and never will. Expect love, love, and more love! And so now I’ll start over with you and build you up again, dear virgin Israel. You’ll resume your singing, grabbing tambourines and joining the dance. You’ll go back to your old work of planting vineyards on the Samaritan hillsides, and sit back and enjoy the fruit— oh, how you’ll enjoy those harvests! The time’s coming when watchmen will call out from the hilltops of Ephraim: ‘On your feet! Let’s go to Zion, go to meet our GOD!’””
Jeremiah 31:2-6 MSG.
Shalom!
‘Laolu Oyeyemi.