Daily Bible Reading - 2 Chronicles 28, Daniel 8, Acts 8
The Impact of One
There have been many times in my life that I questioned whether or not my voice or actions could really make an impact. Can one person's vote really make a difference? Can one person standing for what is right in their family, school or city truly bring change? I believe we have all had similar questions from time to time. I know for me, there have been times that I choose not to act out of discouragement thinking "what can I really do in this situation?"
In Acts 8 we see how much of an impact just one person can make when determined to follow God and completely surrender to Him. As we follow Philip through this chapter we see that he impacts both men and women in the city of Samaria as he preaches the word. A man by the name of Simon, who practiced magic, came to know the truth. We then see Philip used by God to see an Ethiopian come to Christ and be baptized. Immediately from that encounter Philip finds himself in Azotus and from there he continues through town after town preaching the gospel till he gets to Caesarea. In this one chapter so many people came to know the truth and that truth was revealed to them by God through one individual, Philip.
What was it about Philip that caused him to act as he did? What enabled him to have such a great impact on so many people? I believe Philip was focused on the right thing. When we focus our eyes on ourselves, circumstances or people we become discouraged and begin to think that our voice or actions cannot bring change. 2 Corinthians 5:7 says, "for we walk by faith, not by sight". As Christians we are not to determine our actions by what we see happening around us in the natural. We are called to live by faith and walk by faith. Faith in what? Faith in God, which means our eyes are set on Him, He is our focus. Philip was focused on the Lord and because of that focus he was not acting out of selfishness, fear or doubt. Philip was acting in faith, he was following the Lord. If the Lord lead him to go preach in Samaria, he went and preached in Samaria. Philip's aim was to please the Lord, not to please himself or others.
If we will get our focus on the Lord, if our aim becomes to please Him then He will lead us to act and as we act we will impact many for the Kingdom of God. If you find yourself in the place of believing that you cannot make a difference then you are right, you cannot. You have your eyes focused on yourself. Set your eyes on Him and He will lead you and guide you. When your eyes become set on Him you will realize that you are not acting alone. Matthew 19:26 "...with men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible". When we act with our focus on ourselves, others or circumstances, we are acting alone. However, when we act with our focus on Him then He is with us and all things become possible!
Where is your focus today? Who is the Lord going to lead you to impact today? Set your eyes on Him and let the adventure begin!
Tomorrow's Bible Reading - 2 Chronicles 29, Daniel 9, Acts 9
Dream Big,
Katie
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Friday, October 30, 2009
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2 comments:
It is so true. As we remain focused on God rather than our own selfish motives or desires we can see change. It is when we focus on ourselves that nothing changes.
Its interesting to see how we view things, we usually think that WE make sacrifices for God, that WE are able to do change the world, that WE are out in the world trying to get people saved, all we are doing is taking the glory ourselves instead of giving it to God.
It is God that made a sacrifice for us, it is God who is saving people, it is God who does all this things. When we understand that it is His glory and His will we understand that we don't do anything except allow God to do thing through us and when we understand this we understand that everything is possible.
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