Good Morning Friends,
Some weeks leave us worn thin… disappointment, frustration, or news we never wanted. And often, before we can even name what we feel, God already knows. He meets us with grace, and sometimes He sends a Barnabas, maybe you, someone whose presence lifts the spirit and reminds us that we are not alone. The early church needed this kind of encouragement, and so do we. So, Do You Need Some Encouragement in the Form of God’s Covenant of Grace?
Scripture Summaries
Acts 11:21–26; 13:1–3 — Barnabas Encourages the Church
The gospel spreads in Antioch, and many turn to the Lord. The Jerusalem church sends Barnabas, who rejoices at God’s grace and urges the believers to remain faithful. He brings Saul (Paul) to help teach the growing community. Later, during worship and fasting, the Holy Spirit sets Barnabas and Saul apart for mission, and the church sends them out.
Matthew 5:20–26 — The Heart Behind the Law
Jesus teaches that true righteousness goes deeper than outward obedience. Anger, contempt, and broken relationships matter to God. Reconciliation is more urgent than ritual. Love fulfills the law in ways mere rule‑keeping never can.
Hebrews 9:15 — Christ the Mediator of the New Covenant
Jesus establishes a new covenant through His death, one that redeems us fully and gives us an eternal inheritance.
Message: Barnabas, “son of encouragement,” lived in a time when Christians were losing homes, livelihoods, and even their lives. His generosity, courage, and willingness to stand beside others made him a living picture of God’s covenant grace. He defended Paul when no one trusted him. He strengthened new believers. He helped build a community where people could grow into the likeness of Christ. Encouragement wasn’t sentimental; it was covenantal. It reminded people that God keeps His promises. Today, evangelism may be easier than ever, but discipleship, the long obedience in the same direction, remains hard. We grow slowly. We get discouraged. We forget that Jesus walks with us. But the New Covenant gives us confidence: God is not asking us to change the world by willpower. He is forming a people shaped by grace, not law; by reconciliation, not resentment; by encouragement, not indifference. Barnabas shows us what covenant love looks like in community, believing in someone when others don’t, strengthening the weak, valuing relationships as essential to spiritual growth, and helping others become a blessing.
And So, the New Covenant is not a small thing. It is God’s promise, fulfilled in Christ, to forgive, restore, and transform. It is the only power strong enough to create lasting change in us and through us. If we accept it, we become people who carry hope into the lives of others.
Pray for those who need encouragement. Pray to be changed by grace, not driven by anger. Pray to receive the New Covenant as God’s gift, not an obligation. Pray to love as Christ loves, deeply, patiently, sacrificially. Pray for joy in the journey and expectancy in relationships. Pray to grow into a community that shares God’s grace with outsiders. Pray to encourage one another in the faith of Christ.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 