What does inspiration mean?

Many times I begin an editorial by telling you what inspired me to write on a particular topic, but today our topic will be about "inspiration" itself. As in, what inspires us? By definition and usage the word "inspiration" means things like "an infusion" or "being moved." We even see it applied as "firing us up." So, what "moves" us? What "lifts" our spirits? And we know of a certainty that our spirits need to be "lifted" at times, don't we?

Another definition of "inspiration" is "encouragement." Same as being "lifted" we need to be "encouraged" from time to time. Sort of like getting a "shot of adrenalin" right at the time we need one. And, speaking both medically and spiritually, where does "adrenalin" go? To the heart of course. That's why we say that we "take heart" when we're encouraged in some way.

I love the way Paul expressed this thought on two occasions. The first one was after he finally arrived in Italy after all the problems with the passage there (storms, shipwrecks etc.) and we read in Acts 28:15 that he "...thanked God and took courage." The second expression by Paul that I'll cite is found in 1Cor. 16:18 where he has been visited by several brethren who supplied him with things he needed and he says "...they have refreshed my spirit..."

Let me make a point by asking some rhetorical questions here. Are our "spirits" lifted and refreshed when our brethren remember us in some way? When the sick and shut-ins are visited? When we know that our brethren are concerned about us and in some way show their care for us? Of course we are!

Personally, I'm "encouraged," my spirit and heart is "lifted," by some things referred to as "visual examples of faith" but I like to call them "walking sermons." And, let me tell you a fact - they're all around us and I'll say more about them in a moment. Before I do that though, I'd like to relate an example of a "walking sermon" that was told by one of our brethren who was serving in the military in Germany. He said that in all the years since that time, he's never forgotten this "visual sermon."

It happened on a Sunday morning on a bitterly cold and rainy day in November. He had gotten out of bed and looked out the window, seeing everything covered in ice and saw that snow had even fallen during the night. He was trying to decide whether or not to try and make it to worship service or just stay home and study the Bible. Because he was the only song leader for the congregation and would certainly be missed, he made the decision to brave the cold and rain and go.

He was riding the bus to the church building about 3 miles away and was looking out the window when he saw two people trying to walk through the snow and rain and he recognized them as being faithful members of the congregation and knew that both were elderly. Not only was the man in his 80's, he was blind. His wife was his only guide and she was 75 years old and lame in one foot. They lived in a small apartment and had hardly any income, which was why they couldn't afford to ride the bus and were walking to church.

Knowing them to be faithful members who attended every service, he now realized that they walked to church every Lord's Day. Here he was, riding in a warm bus, having almost been unwilling to attend the worship service because of the weather and here before him were two elderly Christians who, despite their age and infirmities, were walking to worship in that same weather because of their love of the Lord. He has never forgotten that "sermon" and the impression that it had on his heart and his faith.

Inspiration comes to us in lots of ways and in many forms. We are inspired by songs and hymns and poetry and I think it's because those things come into being by "inspiration" themselves. It also comes to us in the form of events, both tragic and good. But, the direction of my lesson today is aimed at the "inspiration" I get from the "visual examples of faith" that I see around me. And they're there for you to see too. Just look around you.

I see "walking sermons" in our faithful Christian family members, some of whom don't "walk" so good anymore. They come to services on crutches, with walkers, in wheelchairs. Some with barely enough health to get dressed and make it from the parking lot into the building. Yet, they are there. Why? For the same reason the old couple in Germany walked 3 miles through rain, snow and cold to church - the love of the Lord. Like the serviceman, I'm "inspired" by their dedication to God.

Plus, I feel my spirit "lifted" and my faith "infused" when I see the "good works" being done by my fellow Christians in helping others in whatever the need may be. Why are these works done? For the same reason the German couple and our infirm members come to worship services - the love of the Lord.

I once read a quotation by an unknown author that simply said; "What's on the inside will eventually show on the outside." In Matthew we see that our thoughts and our actions are controlled by our "hearts," our "inside." (Mt. 12:36) We also see in chapter 5, verse 8 that Christians are to have "pure hearts."

What we produce, what "shows on the outside," stems from a location that is either dedicated to God or is dedicated to self. Ephesians 6:6 tells us that "as servants of Christ" we "do the will of God from the heart." I know that my "walking sermons" are doing what they do because their "heart" directs their actions and their "heart" belongs to God.

In closing, do you ever get to thinking like our serviceman stationed in Germany? That our faith and resolve might just be weak at times? Well, I'll let you in on a little secret - at times, we all get that way. And then, without them even knowing it, a brother or a sister "preaches" a "walking sermon" to us and we get that "shot of adrenalin" to our "heart." Like Paul, we are "encouraged and refreshed."

One more thing: never, ever forget this - you don't know but what you might be a "walking sermon" to another "heart" that might just happen to need an "infusion." That needs "lifting" right at the time you are "preaching your sermon." What happens if you're not there to be a "visual example of faith."

It's impossible for me to enumerate all of you that serve to "lift" my spirits. Who "moves and refreshes" me and I can only echo the words of Paul and say "I thank God for you" and I "take courage."

Ron Covey