As believers, we have been empowered by the Word of God and by the Holy Spirit to engage the people God directs to cross our path.
Each of us has been created with a desire to make a difference. We often think that making a difference means being a “nation changer.” However, we should realize that making a difference in one person’s life is making a difference in the nation in which that person lives.
The most effective way to make a difference is to pattern our lives after Jesus, who made the greatest difference in our world in all of history. How did Jesus make such a difference? He did it by simply being among the people. He was not isolated in some “holy place,” nor was he separated from those He came to seek and save. Jesus not only got out among the people, but also cared for the people. When we are in a crowd, sometimes the crowd is all we see—but Jesus saw individuals.
Luke 19:1-10 tells the story of Jesus entering Jericho. A man there named Zacchaeus, who was a tax collector, wanted to see Jesus as He passed through the city. Zacchaeus ran ahead of Jesus and climbed a tree to have a good view of this Man of whom he had heard so much. Although the crowd was great, Jesus saw Zacchaeus in the tree and took time to make a difference in his life.
When you go about your day, take note of the individuals the Lord brings across your path. He orders the steps of righteous people for a purpose. Each of us lives in a neighborhood. But do we see individuals or just neighbors? Dale Carnegie’s book How to Win Friends and Influence People contains a principle that says, “If you want to influence people, show a genuine interest in them.”
Although Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem when He went to Jericho, He had time for a tax collector who had climbed a tree to see Him. Our schedules must not be the most important thing to us—people must be. Jesus clearly was focused on His mission in this world. “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (v.10, NKJV). What is your focus?
Prayer Points
- Pray that the Lord will sensitize you to those around you today, and that you will be open to pray with others about the concerns they face.
- Pray that you will be on mission throughout the day and will remember that the soul is the most valuable thing in the world.
- Pray that the Lord will give you the opportunity to lead someone to the Savior today.
Share your thoughts. See comments below, and add your own.
