How to Make a Difference in Someone's Life

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 (NIV) ¹⁶  May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, ¹⁷  encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

            The 2015 football season is over – to the relief of some and the disappointment of others. As a faithful Patriots fan I enjoyed the season, though I would have enjoyed it more had they played in the Super Bowl. In their AFC Championship playoff game with Denver they came within two points of having a chance to win. It should have been one point and easier to tie (with a kicked extra point). But they needed two and did not get it with a play. When they failed to tie the game they lost any chance to win in an overtime period. Why did they need two instead of one? Earlier in the game their kicker – Stephen Gostkowski – missed an extra point. Since he is one of the best kickers in the sport this miss was extremely rare and unexpected. When the game ended with a loss, Gostkowski tried to take the blame. Yes, he was responsible for the miss, but not completely responsible for the loss. Sixty minutes of play meant that many team opportunities to get points came and went. His teammates and coach resisted the opportunity to blame him and chose instead to point to his extreme value to the team over the course of the season (and many seasons).

NFL kickers are in a tough position. When they are successful they can dramatically win games and the adoration of millions of fans. When they fail they can be the goat – depriving their teammates and fans of victory and sometimes becoming an object of scorn and even hate. Fans can be extremely fickle in their affections and support. On January 12, CBS News in Minnesota reported the story of another kicker this season. The Minnesota Vikings place kicker Blair Walsh had made an NFL-high 34 field goals. Before the Vikings' playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks, he had converted 33 of 34 kicks inside 30 yards in his career. So when the Vikings were down 10-9 with 22 seconds left and Walsh lined up for a 27-yard field goal attempt, it looked the Vikings would win. But Walsh's kick sailed wide and the Vikings season came to a crashing halt. In the midst of the social media storm directed against Walsh, a group of first graders in Minnesota set out to encourage the broken-hearted kicker. First grader Allie Edwards said, "Blair was really sad, and we wanted to make him feel better." One of her classmates, wrote, "Dear Blair Walsh, I think you shood keep trying. Don't give up! We still love you! Git better by practicing." Tyler Doffin filled a whole page for Walsh: "Dear Blair: I fell bad for you. Don't give up. You're still #1. Practis more so that you can get better at cicing. You're so good at cicing. So don't give up! Keep trying! We still love you." The kids' act of kindness got his attention. He was so touched to hear from children who didn't know him that he pushed his flight home back a day to visit the classroom. After the visit he said, "It was very touching to me. … A lot of [the cards] were very pretty and creative. … I will cherish them forever."

            There are no age restrictions or education limitations for encouragers. And people need encouragers. They may not be as devastated as Gostkowski or Walsh, and the occasion of their discouragement may be completely different from a football game, yet encouragement is exactly what they need. That’s where you and I come in. When opportunity presents itself, are you ready? Because you can be used by the Holy Spirit to lift spirits, give hope, and meet needs. Anyone can be an encourager. Yes, it’s true that some people may be gifted in this area, but that should not keep the rest of us from stepping up when we see the need. This is a practice that I know I can improve in my life. It’s often easy for me to be critical. But criticism is rarely helpful. Words from an encourager are a blessing, and we do not always know just how valuable they are. Lives have been saved or dramatically changed just with words of encouragement. Relationships have been transformed with words of encouragement. Hurts have been healed. New strength has come. Let us as disciples of Jesus seek to offer this blessing to others, especially to those who are brothers and sisters in Christ.

Romans 12:6-8 (NIV) ⁶  We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. ⁷  If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; ⁸  if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

1 Thessalonians 4:18 (NIV)  Therefore encourage each other with these words.

1 Thessalonians 5:11-15 (NIV) ¹¹  Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. ¹²  Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. ¹³  Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. ¹⁴  And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. ¹⁵  Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.

Hebrews 3:13 (NIV)  But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

Hebrews 10:25 (NIV)  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.

PRAYER:  Father, let me make a difference in someone’s life today: someone who needs a word of encouragement. It’s easy to criticize. Lead me down a different path, with words that lift up and bless people. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!    

Scott