“But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.” – Acts 9:27

During the 1870’s, a red-haired, talented Polish lad wanted to be a pianist. However, his teachers at the Warsaw Musical Institute gave no encouragement. He was told that his fingers were too short and thick for the piano. Later he bought a cornet. The same answer was given to him with the statement that he should try another instrument. Passed around like a hot potato, he went back to the piano.

Embittered and discouraged, he chanced to meet the famous composer and pianist Anton Rubinstein. The young Pole played for him. Rubinstein praised and encouraged him. The lad promised to practice seven hours a day. Words of praise changed the entire world for Ignacy Jan Paderewski.

By 1885, Paderewski swept the musical world with his playing and his dynamic personality. For the next fifty years, Paderewski was acknowledged as the world’s greatest pianist. He also excelled as a composer, writing more than two dozen compositions including two operas.

Writing about the composer in his book entitled The Story of the Modern Immortal, Charles Phillips says of Paderewski: “It is difficult to write of Paderewski without emotion. Statesman, orator, pianist and composer, he is a superlative man, and his genius transcends that of anyone I have ever known.”

One of the greatest ministries you can have is being an encourager to others. Without the encouragement of Barnabas, there would not be an Apostle Paul. Do you know someone who needs to be encouraged in the Lord? Today in prayer, thank Christ that in Him we have hope and then seek to encourage others to follow Him.

“This ministry of consolation and encouragement is not to be regarded as inferior and of secondary importance. Did we but discern it, we are daily surrounded by lonely aching and sometimes broken hearts.” – J. Oswald Sanders

God’s Word: “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” – Hebrews 3:13

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2002, Devotional E-Mail