From George Costanza to Superman

Ever have a hard time seeing an actor in a different role other than the first one you saw him in?

Take Ross from friends for instance. He played Captain Sobel in ‘Band of Brothers’. The whole time I kept thinking ‘wow, Ross is in the army’.

George Costanza is another good one. I don’t care what he’s in, he’ll always be little bald georgie from Seinfeld to me.

What about Arnold the terminator who is now a governor? I wonder if the people in his office chuckle every time he says ‘I’ll be back’ or ‘get into the chopper’...

Guess we just have a hard time seeing people in a different role. Our current view of them is predominantly shaped by what we saw in them yesterday.

Jesus did the opposite.

He constantly saw things in people that they didn’t even see in themselves. He saw them play roles that were polar extremes of their past. Once he ‘cast’ a guy for the role of ‘the rock’. You might remember the guy from his previous most prominent role:

“Big mouth super forward disciple who rebuked and denied knowing Jesus”

Everyone and their mom knew him as Simon. But not Jesus. No, Jesus renamed him “Peter”, greek for rock, 'the rock' on which He'd build his church. It was the equivalent of casting George Costanza as the next Superman. Can you imagine?

And if there was ever any suspicion he wasn’t a fit for this role, he made certain to erase all doubt by failing miserably and doing everything opposite of ‘rock’.

But that didn’t stop Jesus. He kept seeing ‘what was not as though it were’ in Peter. Over and over again.

Its one thing for you to tell yourself God has a role for you in his story. Its another thing to look someone in the eye who actually believes that you will play that role.

Awhile ago I was talking to my wife about Gods story. I’ll never forget that day because for the first time in maybe ever, I looked in the eyes of someone who believed in Gods call on my life more than I did. I literally felt like superman.

That's the power of an encourager.

I know we all have a legitimate desire to be the encouragED. That's not the point of this post. Today, I want to dare you to be the encouragER. I’m not asking you to flatter someone or tell them their hair looks nice.

I’m daring to see someone in a way you’ve never seen them before...

I dare you to rename and recast your friend, brother, spouse, son, co-worker e.t.c for a ‘role’ opposite of what you’ve always known of them.

I double dare you to see and proclaim something in someone they don’t even see in themselves...

Not in your heart. In an email, a quick phone call, text or better yet in person.

I triple dog dare you to encourage someone today. 'See what is not as though it were'.

Special note to wives: You have NO idea how much power your encouragement has on your man. No idea. I don’t care if he’s George Costanza [loser], you look him in the eye today and believe in him [see what’s not as though it were] and I promise you he’ll live like superman today. Amen fellas? K. That was free.
P:S- This principle works in all relationships but i think it especially holds tremendous weight in marriage.

If you’re up for this challenge, then fill in the blank with a simple one word answer [or more if you choose] and I promise I’ll say a prayer that the Holy Spirit will use your words to pierce that persons heart:

Today I will encourage __________.