Vol. 17 No. 29 | July 21, 2014
After I had completed my comments I moved back to my seat as others continued participation in the time of communion. Just as I was about to sit down a young woman whom I had never met moved up beside me and introduced herself. She had been present a time or two before but we had never talked.
She proceeded to tell me how she felt compelled by God to talk to me. I assumed she was struggling with something and needed prayer or guidance. I was stunned to learn that she was simply seizing the moment to encourage me. She was not needing me to tell her “everything will be alright,” to offer words of hope for her, nor did she need me to pray for her. Instead, she wanted to encourage me.
She spoke of how she felt the presence of God in me as I spoke. She sincerely explained that she genuinely felt that God was using me to make a difference in this church and that she was deeply grateful for me letting Him guide me as I serve in His Kingdom.
That’s it. She encouraged me and then moved back to her seat.
I learned later that she had shared similar words with another of our members. Both of us expressed how we were moved to tears.
Earlier in the service our youth minister shared this passage:
“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:19–25, NIV84)
This kind and attentive woman obviously took God at His word and considered how she might “spur another on toward love and good deeds.”
“And let us consider how
to stir up one another to love and good works,…” (Hebrews 10:24, New English Version)
“Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out,…” (Hebrews 10:24, The Message)
She had considered, she pondered it, she thought about how she might encourage me. Then, she did it.
She sought me out of the crowd. She took the risk of interrupting me from my private thoughts about the Lord’s sacrifice and encouraged me.
She took advantage of the opportunity to share a kind and genuine message of encouragement with the one who sees it as his role to encourage others.
She was creative. She was brave. She could have waited until the end of the service. She could have written me a note, or a text, or an email. She could have messaged me on Facebook. She did none of these. Instead she took advantage of a moment to tell me face to face that she sensed God’s presence in me.
I felt guilty for assuming she was a needy person coming to ask me for help. I felt ashamed of my arrogance. I felt sad that I had labeled her as a taker. I felt all that, but mostly I felt blessed that she was a giver and a noticer and an encourager. I felt honored that she had taken the time to seek me out and share the message God had placed on her heart.
I was blessed that morning. I will continue to be blessed every time I think about her. I will be challenged by her example to seek out someone to encourage, someone to bless, or someone to express my appreciation for how they are allowing God to be visible in and through them.
Let’s see how inventive and creative we can be in encouraging others to love and do good deeds. Let’s consider it and let’s do it.
Tom
© Copyright 2014 Tom Norvell. All rights reserved.