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Call Out The Greatness

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Three times over the past month I have heard the phrase “call out the greatness” used with regards to building others up.  Once it was in the context of marriage, once in reference to training our children, and once regarding other churches within the body of Christ.

Third time is a charm… but being the obtuse individual that I sometimes am, I have finally caught on that there’s something the Lord has for us with this idea.

Calling out the greatness in others

Marriage is hard.  Anyone who’d tell you otherwise either still has on the rose-colored glasses of early marital bliss, or is lying.  One of many places where we are challenged and learn to die to selfishness in our lives, marriage puts pressure on ourselves and on our spouses.  We all bring a suitcase or two of baggage into it, and sin and flesh whisper deficiencies into our ears….shortcomings of our own and of our beloved’s.

And child rearing…training…raising…  The only people who seem to know all the ins and outs of raising perfect children are those who’ve never actually raised any.  It’s hard.  It’s a blessing.  But again….selfishness creeping around every corner, expectations of behaviors and attitudes that should be….it can be a sticky place.

Let’s talk too about the church itself…ourselves.  The judgements we all hold deep in our hearts, if we’re being honest, about even other believers.  That church is so showy, that one is too rigid, those people have too much freedom, some put God in a box, and others don’t seem to have any boundaries.  You know what I’m talking about….we’ve all thought it.  Self righteousness telling us that the way we know church to be is the only right way.  We nit pick other denominations, and choose sides, and in doing so, we weaken the whole body.

But what if in marriage, and in raising kids, and in living truly as one body of Christ, we call out the greatness in one another instead of focusing on the deficiencies and differences?

What if, instead of nagging our spouse about being such-and-such kind of leader in our marriage, we begin to call out the things he does well?  What if instead of complaining that he never cleans up the dishes, we randomly speak life into him about how proud it makes us to see him work diligently on the yard?  And, instead of moaning about lack in some area, we make efforts to promote him for the places where he excels?  What if he’s impatient, so we begin to speak patience into his life…and pray patience over him?  What if we call out the fruits of the spirit in our spouse….call them into increase and greater existence?

With our kids…it’s the same thing?!  Instead of chastising my son for antagonizing his little brother, how might things change if I heap praise upon him for his gift of making others feeling important and included?  Instead of calling a child bossy, what if we instead recognize and cultivate the hearts of young leaders who learn to take charge with Godly purpose?  Instead of pushing the shy into uncomfortable places, let’s honor the humility and meekness.  Let’s speak into our children the life-giving virtues we pray so diligently for them to posess.

And the church…let’s definitely not be remiss on this one.  Instead of comparing the virtues of expository teaching versus spirit-led storytelling to choose the greater, let’s honor each place and person for the giftings each posesses.  Instead of thinking that one place has it figured out better than another, or getting caught up in minor rib issues, let’s applaud what each different body does well.  Let’s be thankful that those who need deep expository teaching have the option to get it…and not to be forced into a sound and lights production on Sunday mornings.  But by the same token, let’s honor those places that may be more “seeker-friendly” for their ability to draw people in and create an environment of comfort as they ease newcomers into understanding of life in Christ. 

Shakespeare was right…”Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.”

As believers, we cannot be afraid of greatness.  According to Christ, we are born great….we are the workmanship of the God of creation.  We achieve greatness the closer we get to Jesus.  And, greatness has been given to us through faith in Christ, so let’s walk that out as we thrust it onto others.

Let us be a people who love…and in love, we speak life, we give life, and we change lives. 

Let’s call out the greatness. 

 

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.  Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. – Philippians 2:1–4

Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. … May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.  – Romans 15:2, 5–7

 

Comments

  2. Logan, What beautiful words! I’ve been learning the same lesson!

    “Third time is a charm… but being the obtuse individual that I sometimes am, I have finally caught on that there’s something the Lord has for us with this idea.”

    We can even apply this to non-believers, people outside of our body. I’ve been experimenting with honoring and calling out greatness in those of other faiths, recognizing truth as truth (“Wow! You are so generous!”) in their lives and beauty as beauty. Just because they don’t know where the truth and beauty has originated from doesn’t mean it isn’t from the creator of the universe. When we stop to give glory to the giver of life instead of being concerned with appointing ourselves the menders of the broken, we are able to abide in a much calmer and happier place of rest. God is big and his body is so very unique! 

  3. Yeah!!  That’s it.  Felt like I just needed to say that when I got to the end.  Carry on now  and keep encouraging.  That goes for everybody.  😉

  4. Wow!  This speaks right to my heart today!  School is starting, routines are changing, the dog just died, and our family feels surrounded by stress.  I needed this (not so subtle, thanks God!) reminder to find the greatness in my hubby and my kids.  Thank you!

  5. Ah yes! And the result is not just that they see the greatness, but we see more and more of that and less to complain about.

  6. Agreed!

    I read about too much complaining about churches being too formal/informal, old-fashioned/new-fangled, stuck-up/friendly, big/small. Our pastor talks about meeting folks where they are. I believe that is our opportunity to celebrate with and for them, that they have made a step forward, whether in marriage, parenting, at work, or taking a step closer to God. I know I am always more encouraged by a kind word than criticism that the step I took just isn’t big enough. 
    I found it to be a tough lesson to learn as a parent, and one I fell down on too many times when our girls were younger. All we can do, however, it to keep moving forward and concentrate on growing and getting better, and calling out the greatness. Thanks for this yummy food for thought, Logan!

  7. Amen and Thank you.  “God is love and in Him is NO darkness at all”.  God’s only called us to TWO main commandments – Love God, Love our neighbor.  Jesus is our greatest example and the whole reason he came, to redeem ALL mankind.  If someone does not yet know enough to believe or even decides not to believe – we are to love like Jesus loved.  He did not condemn even those that sent him to his death, but said “Forgive them, for they know now what they do”.  It saddens me when “Christians” don’t know the Word of God regarding a topic, but mistakenly use their own emotions (sincerity can be a wonderful thing, but is no guarantee for truth) and become over zealous in their believing, causing division in the “one body of Christ” to which we all belong or gives “Christianity” a bad rap because people are left thinking we are all extreme.  I have learned, Christianity is not a religion (for they are all man made), but it is a relationship between God, His son and our savior, Jesus Christ and the “born again of God’s spirit” believer. It is a believers responsibility to put God’s Word on in our minds until it becomes our hearts, that we receive the blessings of believing and have to give the gospel of Christ to others. God’s Love covers a multitude of sin.

  8. This is such a great article.  I’ve always been taught to call out the greatness in others, calling forth those things which aren’t as though they are.  It’s hard.  I get it wrong as a wife, mom and minister all the time.  I am so thankful for His grace. 

  9. Thank you for the perspective… you know… the one that SHOULD be so obvious and clear, but somehow gets all befuddled!  Love you friend!! xo

  10. Logan,
    I believe this is absolutely the way we should treat people.  I believe often that people live up to our expectations of them.  If we speak of them as if they are great at this or that I believe that they hear us and believe it and try to model it.  We should always look for things we can praise others for; for the response is always for them to manifest that again and again.  I remember my daughter telling me how much she appreciated something that I did.  At the time it really did not mean much to me but I can tell you I make sure I manifest that always now and much more so because she made one simple comment about how she liked it.  Sincere praise is powerful.

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