Reflections:
# What we prize, we eventually resemble, in unintended ways (J. Ortberg)
# God is more glorified by living saints than by prematurely dead saints (T.D.Jakes)
# There is dignity in security and longevity, but often there is also irrelevance and weakness (J. Graham)
# Should you happen to notice another person is extremely tall or overweight, eats too much, has red hair, ought to get married or ought not to be pregnant- see if you can refrain from bringing those astonishing observations to that person’s attention(Judith Marting on Miss Manners)

Text:
John 13:34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." NIV

Hebrews 3:12 See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as lo n g as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.




The atmosphere that people create can enhance the achievement of their desired goals and so energise them for greater achievements. When people recognise and acknowledge good in one another, an encouraging and enabling environment is created. Is that not what Jesus Christ meant when he refused to label or accept community labels of other people as sinners? (Luke 7:36-41; Luke 19:7). Jesus saw the potential in the woman who had lived a sinful life and in knowing that Christ was within reach she bought and anointed him with expensive oil. Are there worthless people in a commun i ty or there are people ‘locked’ in by lack of acknowledgement and affirmation of their worth by those in their midst?

Toxic environment makes heroes look like villain and makes living or working together, a continued strain and misery. Unfriendly atmosphere cause people to throw ‘dust’ on each other in pursuit of prominence and then spend a lot of time seeking attention from the already wounded people. It reminds me of a story (Francis Gay: 1988) shared of a Chinese emperor who ordered his official to go throughout the empire and discover the best methods of improving his subjects. On his return the official said it was a pity that it was not possible to dispose of the emperor’s subjects and restore to life those who had died and were obviously much better. The official explained that he had spent much time reading tombstone inscriptions most of which extolled those whose term on planet earth had passed. Isn’t that true in many of our communities today? Think of the speeches given during the funerals and compare that with how people speak to and of one another in their daily interactions. Why do we have to wait until the breath of life has ebbed away before we share of how important a person is to us? How many people would benefit from a word of encouragement now instead of having their good deeds remembered when they are gone?

Do you realise that it is the schools, the churches, families and even nations that speak well of each other that seem to identify growth opportunities?



H O W WE POISON OUR COMMUNITY

The ways we come up with ways of identifying those to be given credit should continually be reviewed. For example, a church or organization or even school involves its members in participation while only one or a few will receive recognition at the top will have a mass of frustrated and unfulfilled people. Offering rewards to the few highly visible winners who have survived the elimination process, after stimulating excessive hopes among the group is likely to create a community of losers. Think of the disappointment inculcated in children who end being referred to as failures because the community does not have enough secondary schools to accommodate its children. In a culture where there is unspoken expectation that success is being the celebrity and everything else is a failure, then there will be ‘bleeding’ from wounds of lost dr e ams. The disappointed people with all their talents are shelved away from the limelight and their contribution is ignored. Those in positions of authority have to keep bending low and lower as you cannot push others down without having to bend. That makes the total society; including the believers focus on short –term and often unproductive activities.

People’s attention is diverted from working on their strength to seeking to become heroes. There is loss to the society and the kingdom of God suffers damage. Remember it is one negative word or look that combine and make giants that become intensely personal, and on one one’s mind. It’s those giants that keep a constant whisper that says ‘you will never succeed, t hat you will always be dependent on others’. When more people crown their minds with negative thoughts, then a community of mourners, grumblers, backbiters is formed. Negative community demotivates people even those with great determination. If you fail to crown others as heroes, they ‘crown’ you with their negative living. Is your verbal and non verbal communication making others rejoice or feel sorry for who they are?

THE ART OF CROWNING ONE ANOTHER IS BIBLICAL

A crown is a label of high status worn by the royalty or given to those who have achieved. It is a noble act to affirm in those around us the inbuilt human desire to matter, to be noticed, to have another witness our accomplishments, to care, to make us know we are important. When our Maste r is Jesus Christ, whose mission was to ‘seek and to save that which was lost’ (Luke 19:10), then know we matter. As Christians we have security in Jesus Christ promise of being with us always (Matthew 28:20) and as the Psalmist say, ‘You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.. . 5 You hem me in--behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me’ Psalm 139:2, 5). To be in Jesus Christ's care means we matter and non of our thoughts, actions go unnoticed by one who promises a crown of life to those who hold on to Him to the very end (Revelation 2:10, 3:11). That is what releases Christians from attention seeking to being encouragers and hero makers. Are there people who are getting discouraged around you because there is no one to encourage them?

&nb s p; Determine to be a light of your world by highlighting and underlining the good in others. If you are viewing any work a person is doing with pleasure, tell the person. If you have memory of people who have contributed to making you who you are, don’t wait until the people are gone or life is over, tell them.

Remember no one created in God’s image has nothing good and there are no worthless people. Look around you, in your family, work station, church and consider whether you are encouraging others and facilitating them to identify and use their gifts.

Do people feel heroic because of the way you relate with them? I f you find it hard to encourage others because you are not encouraged, then you need to go back to your source of encouragement. Your making others enjoy the prince and princess status should not depend on their actions toward you. Often the log in the eye blocks one’s sight from noticing the good in other people. Acceptance of Christ’s work at Calvary gives the status of God’s child and that is royalty. Love others, encourage others, affirm others and appreciate the good you see in others. Remember the ball you throw is the ball that bounces back to you. Be the one to throw kindness, gentleness, forgiveness, and all that creates an atmosphere for God’s people to bring pout their best. Many people give up because no one tells them how well they are doing. Are you an encouragement to those around you?



‘A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory. 21 In his name the nations will put their hope’. Matthew 12:20-21)