Encouragement may be the greatest gift we give this Christmas.

适时的鼓励或许就是最佳的圣诞礼物。

Joseph . . . whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet. Acts 4:36–37

约瑟，使徒称他为巴拿巴（巴拿巴翻出来就是劝慰子）。他有田地也卖了，把价银拿来，放在使徒脚前。-使徒行传4章36-37节

An old Merle Haggard song, “If We Make It Through December,” tells the story of a man laid off from his factory job with no money to buy Christmas gifts for his little girl. Although December is supposed to be a happy time of year, his life seems dark and cold.

美国乡村歌手梅尔·哈格德（Merle Haggard）的一首老歌《我们可否捱过十二月》，说到有名男子被工厂裁退，没有钱买圣诞礼物给他的小女儿。虽然十二月应该是欢乐的时节，但他的生活却灰暗而悲凉。

Discouragement is not unique to December, but it can be amplified then. Our expectations may be higher, our sadness deeper. A little encouragement can go a long way.

灰心挫折并不限于十二月，但发生于此时节却让人更加伤感。因为我们的期望可能较高，所以悲伤可能更深。这个时候，些许的鼓励可以发挥深远的作用。

Joseph, a man from Cyprus, was among the early followers of Jesus. The apostles called him Barnabas, which means “son of encouragement.” We meet him in Acts 4:36–37 when he sold a piece of property and donated the money to help other believers in need. 

圣经中来自塞浦路斯的约瑟，是耶稣早期的跟随者之一。使徒们称他为巴拿巴，意即“劝慰者”。使徒行传4章36-37节提到巴拿巴把卖掉田地的钱奉献出来，帮助其他有需要的信徒。

Later, we read that the disciples were afraid of Saul (Acts 9:26). “But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles” (v. 27). Saul, later called Paul, had formerly been trying to kill the believers, but Barnabas defended him as a man transformed by Christ.

之后，使徒行传9章26节记载使徒们害怕扫罗，“惟有巴拿巴接待他，领去见使徒”（27节）。扫罗（后来被称为保罗）先前一直想杀害信徒，但是巴拿巴为他辩护，说他已被基督改变。

All around us are people longing to be encouraged. A timely word, a phone call, or a prayer can bolster their faith in Jesus.

在我们周遭有许多人渴望能得着鼓励。适时的一句话、一通电话，或是一起祷告，都可以坚固他们对耶稣的信心。

The generosity and support of Barnabas demonstrate what it means to be a son or daughter of encouragement. That may be the greatest gift we can give to others this Christmas.

巴拿巴的慷慨与支持展现了身为劝慰者的意义，在今年的圣诞节，这或许是我们能赠予他人最棒的礼物。

Thank You, Lord, for the gift of encouragement. May we encourage others as they have encouraged us.

主啊，谢谢祢赐下劝导激励的恩赐，
求祢帮助我们鼓励他人，因我们也曾得到鼓励。

32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas(which means “son of encouragement”), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

Acts 9:26-27New International Version (NIV)

26 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 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.