Welcome

Welcome to Barnabas Notes. The title of this site comes from the Biblical character of that name who was a companion of the apostle Paul on his first missionary journey and whose name was actually Joseph. He was called "Barnabas," which means "son of encouragement," because of his ability to bless the lives of others. We hope that this blog will be such a blessing in your life!

A peaceful spring on the Macedonian side of Lake Ochrid in the Balkan Mountains

Monday, September 24, 2007

A Heart Weighed Down

Solomon writes: Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad (Proverbs 12:25). This is good Biblical evidence that stress is a bad thing! Read Genesis 4:6, 7. These days it seems that anxiety is just the normal response to normal everyday life, doesn’t it? And yet, God’s Word so clearly says that it weighs a man’s heart down.

In the context of this verse it seems that Solomon is contrasting the one who does the right thing with the one who does the wrong thing. Doing wrong is one way to bring anxiety into your life. It might be that you are wrestling with a sin that has a hold on you and seems as though it will never let go. You struggle with it and sometimes you win and resist the temptation, but most of the time…it gets you. And there is anxiety.

Solomon’s alternative to anxiety in this verse is “a good word.” That is a word of encouragement. A word of encouragement is a word that edifies, or builds up (Ephesians 4:29). It is a word that gives strength in the struggle with temptation. It is the reason why we should not be afraid to confess our faults one to another so that we can pray for one another (James 5:16).

Is your heart weighted down today? I hope that I can give you a word of encouragement that will make your heart glad. God stands ready to help you with your heavy burdens (Matthew 11:28-30). He will not take all your pain away in this life, but He will give you the strength you need to help you survive (1 Corinthians 10:13). I know life seems hard sometimes, but there is reason to hope. You can survive if you will give yourself in faithful obedience to God. He will help you get through the tough times because He loves you and so, by the way, do I.

Donnie Bates

Monday, September 17, 2007

O Lord, You Are My God

Isaiah the prophet wrote: O Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name; for You have worked wonders, plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness (Isaiah 25:1). In the context of this passage, Isaiah is really giving glory to God because God is able to destroy the enemies of His people. That should be a word of encouragement for those who make their “calling and choosing” certain (2 Peter 1:10). In other words, if you will make sure that you are indeed a faithful child of God, you can take a great deal of encouragement from the fact that God can work wonders and “plans from long ago with perfect faithfulness,” such as helping you to overcome rather than to be overcome by the trials of life.

I want you to just listen to Isaiah’s description of our God: For You have been a defense for the helpless, a defense for the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat; for the breath of the ruthless is like a rain storm against a wall. Like heat in drought, You subdue the uproar of aliens; like heat by the shadow of a cloud, the song of the ruthless is silenced (Isaiah 25:4, 5). Have you felt defenseless lately? Well, God will be your Defense if you will let Him. Has it seemed as though you were in the midst of a terrible storm? God will be your Shelter. He will be the Shade under which you can take a break from the relentless heat of trial and tribulation. He subdues those enemies which threaten to overwhelm His children. What a wonderful thought!

Isaiah continues to describe Jehovah to his readers in the following verses and even though he specifically applies this to Moab, one of the enemies of Judah in the eighth century B.C., these are still words of hope for the faithful Christian. God’s attitude toward His children has not changed. He still loves them and protects them, even though we must suffer in this life from time to time. I know there are some who wonder why they have to suffer if God loves them as much as people like me say He does. Passages like James 1:2-4 and Romans 5:1-5 give us some idea of God’s design for the spiritual beings we are, and how we may grow stronger even in the midst of turmoil and suffering. I am so glad that I can open my Bible and read passages like Isaiah 25 and can speak Isaiah’s prayer of verses 1-5 as my own. And I am so happy that you paused long enough in your day to read this note from me. I want you to know that God stands ready to “prepare a lavish banquet” for you on His mountain and “will wipe tears away” from your face (Isaiah 25:6-8). He will do this for you because He loves you, and so, by the way, do I.

Donnie Bates