If you look through history you can easily see that one person can make a difference, and I am always challenged when I read about the men and women throughout history who are known for their impact on the world. Men and women who chose not to limit their influence by what they could do, but who especially chose to put their lives in the hands of Jesus and simply said “Here I am, use me”.
Men and woman like Dwight Moody, Mother Teresa, Oral Roberts, Hudson Taylor, Gladys Alyward and Maria Woodworth Etter. Some were uneducated and from very poor families yet they did astounding and amazing exploits and their deeds have lasted long after they have gone from this world.
I love the story of one such man named Dwight Moody. He was born in 1837 to poor parents in a humble farmhouse in Massachusetts. At 17 years old he left home to move to Chicago as a shoe salesmen.
There he made a decision. He started to seek God first for his life and future and as he did Dwight began to feel compelled to speak to people about Jesus. Soon he had crowds listening and a large church formed as he continued to share. At different times 50,000 people would crowd around him as he stood in his buggy and spoke to the gathering crowds. Presidents and their cabinet members sat on platforms with him as he preached and through his endeavors the YMCA was formed and established.
Dwight Moody was known as a man surrendered to God and a man of prayer, actually he was a greater prayer than a preacher. He knew in the depths of his soul that nothing is to hard for God and so he would pray.
But what always inspires me most is that Dwight Moody really knew the value of one person to God. Everyday he determined to speak to at least one person about Jesus, even if that meant getting back out of bed late at night and going out on the street to find someone to share with.
He was one ordinary man, but in God’s hand this humble former shoe salesman’s life was used to change millions of lives and his spiritual legacy continues to impact the world today.
Life is full of good things; jobs, families, careers, cars, houses, holidays etc. But if that is all that our lives consist of then perhaps we have missed it. Bevause in the end our possessions, clothes, shoes, personal items, holidays memories, photo’s, and souvenirs are all packed up in boxes. They may all be good things, but how many of them are lasting?
The bible says, “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever” (1 Peter 1:24).
However what if we had the perspective and understanding of what is the most important thing? What if we thought about using our time each day not just on the immediate, but on what is also of eternal significance. What difference we could each make in the lives of people around us if we just stopped and asked God, “What would you have me say and do today?”
This week spend some time at the start of each day asking Jesus what He has for you to do? Who to speak to, to call, to have a coffee with, who to pray for or with?
One person can make a difference, so make that one person you!
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).
Prayer: Lord help me to see the difference I can make and to see the eternal significance I can make today. Speak to me Lord, I’m listening. In Jesus name Amen.