Here’s the second part of our recap from our most recent parent-youth corporate meeting. (Click here for part 1.) I hope it’s helpful…
My Peers – Influencing for Godliness
The second way we can be a spiritual thermostat, not thermometer is:
2. ENCOURAGE
Turn to Ephesians 4. Let’s read one verse, verse 29: “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who heart.”
Here’s the mission statement for our mouths – our words – as influencers for godliness: Let no corrupting talk come out…, but only such as is good for building up. It’s stark; it’s non-negotiable. “Let no,” “but only”… NO corrupting talk, no words that tear down others, no words that put others in a bad light. BUT ONLY words that build up, that edify, that encourage. Fitting to the occasion, we speak in ways that build them up spiritually – isn’t that a great way to be an influence for godliness?
We say so many words every day; words are an everyday, common part of our existence. But we can use something so everyday, so commonplace to influence others by building them up in Christ.
You can do that by telling others where you see God at work in their lives. That’s a great, God-centered way to encourage. Someone does something or says something that represents the Lord well, we can say, “Thanks for doing that… The way you did that, the way you are thinking about that – that is God’s grace at work in you, and I want you to be aware of that!”
Isn’t it so helpful to hear where others see grace at work in your life? So often, we’re the last to know. We’re the last to see where grace is at work in us. We have the privilege of point it out to them, that they might be built up in the Lord. We can say, “I want you to be aware of something. I see God’s grace at work in you in these ways, and I want to tell you about them….”
You can do that with your parents, with your siblings, and you can do that with your peers – and when you do, you will be influencing for godliness. Just notice what happens when we do speak words that are good for building others up.
What happens in verse 29? They get grace! They get sustaining grace from God to help keep them going in the Christian life. They get empowering grace to keep on going with Jesus. Did you know your words can do that?
We think: words are meaningless, words are disposable. But God says, “No, I want to use your words to give your friends, and your family members, and all those around you – grace!”
Back when the Olympics were held in Australia, there was a 22-year-old African named Eric Moussambani, nicknamed “The Swimmer.” “The Swimmer” had only learned to swim the January before the games and had never raced more than 50 meters, but by special invitation, Mr. Moussambani was entered in the 100 meter men’s freestyle.
He never put his head under the water and flailed wildly to stay afloat. With ten meters left to the wall, he virtually came to a stop. Some spectators thought he might drown! Even though his time was over a minute slower than the qualifying time, the capacity crowd stood on their feet and cheered “The Swimmer” on.
Finally, he reached the wall, and when he had caught his breath, here’s what he said: “I want to send hugs and kisses to the crowd. Their cheering kept me going.”
That’s a good picture of what God want to do through our many words. He wants our words to our parents, our siblings, and our peers to be words that say to them: “Go, Go, Go – keep going, following Jesus!”
Consider – Who can I encourage as an influence for godliness? Let’s build a culture of grace-giving speech instead of tearing-down speech. That’s how, out of a heart of love for the Savior, we seek to help others to grow in their love for the Savior.
We reach out, we encourage – and one more way we can be an influence on others for godliness (to be continued in Part 3) …
