A “Pictorial Dictionary” or “Visual Dictionary” gives visual representations for each of the entries on its pages. If you were in charge of selecting a Bible character to depict each of the following words, who would you choose to put in your “Visual Dictionary”?
ENCOURAGEMENT. If the apostles had written a visual dictionary, there is only one picture that could have found its way onto its pages next to “encouragement.” A man named Joses was “named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement)” (Acts 4:36). When less-fortunate brethren, unwanted brethren, struggling brethren and even devoted brethren needed encouragement, Barnabas was there (read through the book of Acts).
FAITH. One might consider this entry strange, but the Bible illustrates faith multiple times with the image of Rahab. “By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace” (Heb. 11:31). “Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?” (James 2:25). Who would ever believe a harlot could depict the power and preciousness of living faith? Faith in God changes lives!
GRATITUDE. We don’t know his name (but Jesus does). In Luke 17, Jesus healed ten men of the most devastating disease of leprosy. Can you believe that only one of them (only one, and he was a Samaritan) “returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks” (17:15-16)? What a tremendous expression of gratitude—it was immediate, it was loud, it was humble, it was genuine, it was rewarded! It is made even more remarkable by contrasting it with the other nine ingrates!
HOSPITALITY. Christians are commanded to be “given to hospitality” (Rom. 12:13), to “not forget to entertain strangers” (Heb. 13:2), and to “be hospitable to one another without grumbling” (1 Pet. 4:9). Few others could better visually represent hospitality than Gaius. The apostle John commended Gaius, in the short letter which he wrote to him, for all that he did “for the brethren and for strangers.” Gaius had apparently housed traveling missionaries and then sent “them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God” (3 John 5-8). What a great example!
Now, make the application. How much of an encouragement are you? No matter your past life, how strong is your faith? How fervently and frequently do you express gratitude? Are you given to hospitality? Could your picture be used?