“Think of ways to encourage one another.” Hebrews 10:24 New Living Translation
“Others around you are not all they can be, if you are not regularly encouraging them.”
My thoughts today are about “cheerleaders.”
Everybody loves cheerleaders. Two of our granddaughters have been cheerleaders and I loved watching them. I saw a side of their personalities not often displayed. What’s not to love? You love their energy and enthusiasm. They clearly believe in something and give their all in support and encouragement of others’ best efforts.
They are there to cheer their team to victory, and include the spectators in their own expectations. And more, they work to get everyone else involved and excited too. Even if you are not as excited as they are, you want to be, if only for their sakes. Watch their engaging smiles, coordinated jumps and movements, and listen to the cadence of their voices – assured, positive, enthusiastic, joyful.
What’s the cheerleaders’ message? It’s in their name. They cheer the players to be better than they would, and lead others to join the cheer and become encouragers too. Cheerleaders themselves cannot actually add a single point on the scoreboard, except by lifting their voices to empower the players on the court or field who can. Their message is all about playing hard, doing your best, believing, succeeding, and winning. Isn’t that what you want life to be about – doing your best, working hard, believing, succeeding?
Everybody needs cheerleaders. Did you know the Bible has a lot to say about cheerleaders? The Bible calls them encouragers. In fact, the church was barely begun when one person became so known for his lifestyle of encouragement that his friends changed his name to mean “son of encouragement.” Acts 4:36-37 NIV. Some are especially gifted to lead the cheers, “God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well . . if your gift is to encourage others, do it!” Romans 12:6/8 NLT.
Reading the New Testament, it quickly becomes clear that everyone is meant to be an encourager. You don’t just accidentally become a cheerleader; you choose to be one and put a lot of time and effort in practicing your cheers. “Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds.” Hebrews 10:24 NLT. I love that phrasing – “outburst of love and good deeds!”
I am thankful for cheerleaders in my life and ministry. I wasn’t a very confident child, but my Mom and Dad celebrated what I was and believed in what I would become (and being the first grandchild, my grandparents were convinced I was unlike any other ever born!). Across the years, God brought teachers, friends, church members, and mentors – and most of all, my wife and family, and our Trinity Church family – who were willing to lead the cheers.
Who leads the cheers for you? Recognize and appreciate them. You will never be your best without them. More importantly, who are you cheering on to braver attempts and bigger accomplishments? Here’s what I have observed: cheering others results in others cheering you. Others around you are not all they can be, if you are not regularly encouraging them to dream big, be more, believe stronger, reach higher, and press harder.
I think this verse sums it all up: “My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that the grace of God is with you no matter what happens.” 1 Peter 5:12 NLT.
My prayer for you today is to be encouraged, and become an encourager of others.