How Do You Inspire Others? [Day 9: INSPIRE]

A generous commenter on this blog the other day said that he supposed I could “find the holiness in tying a shoelace.” I’m not sure about that because I buy my kids velcro shoes so we can get out the door faster. But I have seen God work in the smallest places and have become sensitive to all the ways He is working in my life. At other times during our overseas ministry, I have woken from sleep with a heavy heart, lacking that sense of holiness in common days lived for the Lord. I look ahead at my day, and it feels so empty. I know this feeling is not unique to overseas ministry or to my life.

A look at instagram will tell you that we are all after a little inspiration. Would you be surprised if I told you the Bible actually instructs that we inspire one another? Hebrews 10:24 stresses the importance of believers provoking or stirring up good works in one another. We are to inspire one another to live in faithfulness to God in service to others.

This takes thought and discipline. Our fallen nature wires us to always do what’s best for number one. This passage teaches that we must thoughtfully consider how we may inspire others. John Piper says, “The aim of our lives is not just loving and doing good deeds but helping stir up others to love and good deeds.” This is something we can feel good about putting on our to-do list each day. As we live in service to others, we inspire others to do the same. As we serve those we rub shoulders with, we glorify God as we go. We know this is the ultimate goal.

In a nation with a Christian minority, Christian fellowship is harder to come by. Perhaps I could pass off this passage most days of the week due to my lack of daily contact with the Christian community. However, what better way can I stir up love and good deeds within another person than to introduce them to Jesus? How many opportunities I have to do so if I choose to see and act upon them.

Verse 23 of the same passage tells me how I can live this out in the day-to-day. Thankfully, it has nothing to do with how loving or good I am but completely depends upon God’s faithfulness.

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

Helping kids put on shoes or passing plates of heaping rice in circled up fellowship, I can inspire those around me to love and good deeds. I do this daily drawing from the deep well of God’s abounding love towards me. Suddenly, my life feels a little less small.

I “make” God big in my life when I depend on His faithfulness to inspire good works in others. Only through His grace do I have the capability to love and do good deeds beyond common morality. He inspires true Christian service. 

How can you inspire others to love and good works for Christ?

Talk to me in the comment section below!