Challenge Central: a CBC devotional
by: Pastor Alan Rietberg
I think there are a lot of us who wonder what difference we could ever make in this world. We may think we don’t have much of a “voice” in our personal world let alone world events because of our age, athletic abilities, physical appearance, finances, social acceptance, etc. I think we can end up almost giving up trying to make an impact in the lives of others because we feel we have little to no control in our own life.
Don’t believe it!
Don’t fall for the lie that God can’t, or doesn’t want to, work through you! There will always be “higher profile” people that are making a difference in this world (some are not so good), but we need to remember that God wants to work in the heart of everyone to see people trust in His Son, Jesus, for the forgiveness for their sin and one day be in heaven with Him according to 2 Peter 3:9.
We are in this world to make an impact for Jesus, not for ourselves.
Colossians 3:23,24 says “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Take a moment and read through the Bible story of the Syrian military leader Naaman in 2 Kings 5:1-19. He wasn’t a follower of God but his wife’s servant girl, who loved the Lord, made a huge impact in his life with only one statement.
She made a difference! A little unnamed girl, a slave!
What an incredible true story, but what can be our take-away from this? The first questions that come to my mind when I read these kinds of stories in the Bible are: who has been a big influence in my life and in whose life have I been an eternal influence for our Saviour? You and I may never know, this side of eternity, how a kind deed or appropriate word may affect another person’s life for God. Or maybe a family, our church or possibly a nation.
We CAN make an impact in the lives of other people if we follow God! We have a power working in our lives as Christians that is supernatural: God’s power!
Let me mention three “powers” we have, as believers, that I gleaned from an article written by well-known preacher and theologian, John Stott.
1. There is power in PRAYER. Prayer is an indispensable part of the Christian’s life and of the church’s life. (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
2. There is the power of TRUTH. The Christian believes that God’s truth is stronger than lies, and God is stronger than the Devil. (John 17:17; Romans 1:16; 2 Corinthians 13:8)
3. There is the power of Christian EXAMPLE. Truth is powerful when it’s declared. It is also powerful when it’s exhibited. One Christian nurse in a hospital; one Christian teacher in a school; one Christian in a shop, in a factory, grocery story or in an office…we will all make a difference, for good or for ill. (Matthew 5:16; Romans 12:1,2)
As we consider each of our lives, may we never minimize who may be watching us and whose life we may be influencing. We WILL have an impact in the lives of others. As we live for Christ daily, let us act and react in ways which are honouring to our Saviour and pray for God’s leading. May we do so humbly, as servants.
