Those Inspired by God Inspire Others Part 2

 

Who INSPIRES you?  How do others INSPIRE you? 

As I was guided on this devotion God gave me a banquet of inspiring individuals.   There were biblical figures like Joseph, David, and Moses.  There were writers like the Apostles Paul and John and C.S. Lewis.  There were local athletes like Becky Hammon who said, "I just first want to thank my Heavenly Father -for none of this would be possible without Him." And there were friends - some who a have passed through the veil of this life into eternity.  One friend recently called me out of the blue.  He sold everything and went on a walk with God.  Backpack strapped to his back and guitar in one hand he obediently walked where God told him to go.  He said, "Jeff, God really took care of me.  I didn't have to sleep one day on the streets."  Now married, he lives in Arizona, has written a book, works at a Christian camp, and enjoys views of the mountains

I find people who INSPIRE others and "awaken" OTHERS to the reality of God's love- are those
who are encouraged and inspired by God.

What do we know of those who INSPIRE us?

• They are resilient.... they can occasionally be oppressed but WATCH OUT!  They can come back stronger in their faith then before -for they trust in the LORD and their strength comes from the LORD.
• They have a godly perspective.
• They are in the Word of God.   They read it and abide in it.  They depend on it.   
• They pursue what God has put in their hearts regardless to human opinions, ideals and obstacles.
• They look to God who is their constant help.
• They seek God for guidance.
• They know God makes a way where there seems to be no way.  
•  They see and recognize it's God who appoints whoever He wants to His purpose regardless of human ideals, abilities, traditions or opinions. 
•  They cannot help but give glory to God for all he does in their life.
•  They are ambassadors for Christ.  
• They inspire others in their goodness. 
  

We as human beings do not produce godly goodness by ourselves.  Godly resilience doesn't come naturally.  Even the Christian hope, love and genuine faith do not come by us naturally.

God is the one who puts that faith in us... does he not?  He gives us that measure of faith that we might seek Him and find Him.

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." JEREMIAH 29:13


And In Him that seed of faith grows... but if we depart from him we can do nothing good.
  
Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." JOHN 15:5

GOD is LIFE.   HE gives LIFE. 

Jesus said,  “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." JOHN 14:6

Look at this carefully.... You and I without Jesus are miserable creatures.   Without Jesus we do not have eternal salvation in heaven.   Without Jesus we have no way in which to follow.   Without Jesus we have no truth in which to stand and can believe in when in troubles come.  And LIFE of peace and security and fulfillment is always beyond our reach without JESUS.

Without God there is no WAY, there is no TRUTH, and no LIFE.

Jesus is the way.  He is the one who is to guide our lives.  He is our shepherd.   Everything has life through Him.  I have found the truths of God are trustworthy.  They are an anchor to the lives to those who hold on to them.  And they are much deeper and richer and powerful then any one of us can imagine.  They go far beyond what we can see and understand in natural woman or man.   God’s truths are eternal and they are for our souls which are eternal.  That is why we all must understand nothing on this earth can satisfy- for our eternal souls can only be satisfied by what is eternal.

JESUS GIVES LIFE....  HE GIVES HOPE AND INSPIRATION!  HE gives our lives light, goodness and resilience.

Ever say or hear "Be better, do better, get stronger, be more righteous...." that is all useless non-sense without the reassuring godly perspective that comes from a continual relationship with God.   Has the Spirit of God ever fallen short to our sure will power, strength, determination and foolish pride?    
Of course NOT!

Ever smell a delicious warm meal being cooked and prepared?  Would those mouth watering aromas fill the air without being exposed to heat?
 
Does a delicious warm meal cook itself?   Of course not....  It has to be cooked/ exposed to the heat.   It has to be prepared by someone who knows how to cook it.   It is so with our lives.... God has put all the unique ingredients into our being.  God is the master cook.  He knows how to bring out the delicious aromas of our life.  He knows how to make our lives taste good.   He is the one who needs to work through us. 

I was reminded by the Spirit just a second ago of this passage. "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma." Ephesians 5:2

Think about this statement for a moment by Jesus,  "Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves." JOHN 14:11

What is Jesus saying here?   He and the Father are ONE.   They work TOGETHER. 
Jesus is saying LOOK at the RESULTS of the Father and I as ONE.  What does that say about us and God?  It says we NEED GOD  to be our source of hope and inspiration.  

2 Corinthians says, "For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing," 2:15

How can we be the aroma of Christ unless we are allowing God to work and inspire our lives?
 
God help us to remain in and abide in His amazing love. 

GOD INSPIRED 
We know the word of God is "inspired by God" but what does "inspired" really mean.

Come with me for a moment to Ezekiel 37.  Think about this for a moment...   Who's words did Ezekiel speak when he spoke to the dry bones that covered the valley floor?  Did he speak his own words or GOD'S WORDS?
  
Ezekiel spoke what God had him speak to the dry bones.  The bones began to rattle and come together..... flesh and muscle covered them.  Ezekiel spoke again what God had him speak ...and breath came into those bodies.  And before Ezekiel knew it there stood a great vast army before Him.

Ezekiel spoke God's words which made those bones come together- covered those bones with muscle and skin and gave those bodies life.

We were headed for death... we were as hopeless and uninspired as those scattered bones.  But when a person spoke what God had told them to speak, what happened to our life that was headed for death?  LIFE!  
   
"For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true.  And you know that the way we lived among you was further proof of the truth of our message."  1 THESSALONIANS 1:5 

God wants to INSPIRE US making us productive children of God but sadly we don't give him the time and attention he deserves to inspire us.   Then there is the thought by some that we have everything we need - so why take the time to spend with God but that is erroneous thinking.  Yes we have the Holy Spirit in us, if we have accepted Jesus Christ to be LORD of our life, but have you allowed the roommate of your soul to speak to you and encourage and inspire you?  

Again who is the MASTER cook?  Who can bring out the delicious aromas GOD poured into your soul's make-up when HE created you?  You or God?   Do you know God's plans for you?  Do you know what is to come tomorrow?  God does?  So let HIM prepare and inspire you for what is to come. 

May God be our INSPIRED lives.