WHAT IF you could change the world by doing your little bit?
Did you tighten up? Not me. I can’t do that, you reacted, that would be scary! That’s my natural instinct, too. I don’t believe in myself. I like to control my options. I like everything safe and secure.
I get that. To be realistic, you can’t change the world, either. But you can change you. Absolutely, yes! What changes you for the better–then influences your associations. Substantial change develops love, notices positives, overcomes hate, empowers you, and invites opportunities for God’s grace to shine through you.
We can be thankful. We can speak praises to God. We can voice gratitude. We can reach out to others in genuine kindness. We can be supportive, affirming, and helpful. There is so much we can do if we just care enough to do it. Loving God with our heart, mind, and soul spills out by loving others with what we have.
Christians get a little extra help from the Holy Spirit. All they have to do is ask and then the opportunities present themselves. God knows who means it and helps them accomplish the undertaking. I believe it takes a willingness to take action when the Spirit prompts. This happens by listening for the prompting. It’s then a decision, to act or to not act. Will we or won’t we? Often the battle is won or lost before the situation presents itself.
We can predetermine our response by promising in advance to follow God’s lead. Then we can’t go wrong.
This breeds on-going replication, which over time reproduces in kind. I love being around people who live close to the center, where Christ is in command of the person. They are quite sensitive to the Spirit’s prompts. One friend gives financially when the Spirit says to whom she should give, and she has very humble circumstances. I have watched her do it. Often her needs are greater than the person she’s giving to,”God told me to give you this $60,” she says. Her obedience is a witness to living faith. Another friend helps people out, even offering them a place to live for a while. She and her husband amaze me.
We can’t hold anything too tightly.
Some of us have a hard time with that. It’s hard to let go. Whatever you give to others you cannot keep for yourself. We do get from this; though it’s not like the prosperity gospel theme. This is how we live the abundant life. The widow with the mite gave her everything. God counted her gift as more than the rich that gave greater amounts. God sees the heart. He understands the motive. He proffers the blessing accordingly.
Change you and you help make the world into a better place.
What are you changing? What am I changing? We are changing our attitudes about our time, resources, abilities, and capabilities. By choosing to be salt and light to the world, we allow God to use us without conditions, and without our reserving some areas for only ourselves and off limits to God. Do life God’s way. Let him consecrate what you have and do. Give it to him. I don’t believe you will regret it if you do.
You don’t have to be well-off to be a servant of God and to have a servant’s heart. As the old lyrics say, “Little is much when God is in it.”
No one is unable to follow the Master. Follow Christ. Be blessed.
