Make all the difference

Hello, welcome back to A Good Bible Study: StressLess! Let's pray and dive right into the Word:

Father, thank you for creating this time for us to meet with one another and share Your Word. We ask you to prepare our hearts to receive the message dear to You. Let us be more committed to serving You and sharing the joy of Your love with everyone we meet, from this point on. Change our hearts, Father, so everyone who meets us, feels as though they had an encounter with Your Holy Spirit. In the name of Jesus, amen.

Do you ever feel that you don't make any difference in this world? Do you feel your contribution is too small to be significant? Do you struggle with wondering if it's worth it to even try?

I want to reinforce what I shared with you about your purpose to God. The entire world might scoff at your worth, but it doesn't change the fact that you were created with a purpose. You are here to be loved by God, and to love Him in return. Pretty simple, isn't it?

Read John 15:9-12

You were designed to enjoy the gifts and talents given to You in your DNA and in your spirit. But, like all gifts - your talent and inspiration, creative efforts, and material blessings are meant to be shared. God loves to see us revel in the joy of what makes us unique, what gives us energy, and brings us laughter and pleasure. You know what, He absolutely beams with pride when we begin to ask Him how we can use those gifts to improve the lives of others and point them to the Giver, Himself.

Read Philippians 2:4

"Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but _____ for the _____ of others."

And John 3:17

"But whoever has this ______'s _______ and sees his brother in ______, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the ______ of God abide in him?"

Let me tell you a story I heard a while back. If you know the original author, let me know so I can give credit where credit is due.

A man walked along the seaside and was amazed at the thousands of starfish that had been washed up on the beach after a storm. A little boy was dashing along the shoreline picking up the starfish and throwing them into the ocean, one at a time. The man laughed a little at the boy's naivete. "Son," the man said. "You are wasting your time. You can't make a difference. There's too many." The boy picked up one more starfish and put it into the water, then turned to the man and said, "Well, I made all the difference to that one."

This boy did not let the overwhelming magnitude of the situation keep him from doing what he could: saving one starfish at a time.

I think Helen Keller summed it up best:

I am only one, but still I am one.

I cannot do everything, but still I can do something;

and because I cannot do everything,

I will not refuse to do something that I can do.

The magnitude of your circumstances may feel overwhelming. You may wonder if you are significant in any way to the person you help. 

Whatever you do may seem insignificant,

but it is very important that you do it.

I don't know who said that first, either, but if you do know, please tell me.

Read Hebrews 6:10

God does not forget when we bless others.

Let's pray:

Lord, you created us with purpose and intention. Reveal to each of us this week how we can use our gifts to help someone else. Show us how our abilities or resources can point someone to Your Son, Jesus Christ and to eternal salvation. Let us make a difference to just one; then to many. Show us how significant we are, to You, and to Your plan. In the name of Jesus, amen.

Love, Karen

Photo by Paul Moore, courtesy of www.photoxpress.com