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Make A Difference
2 Corinthians chapter 5
Quiz: Name the ten wealthiest people. Name the last ten Super Bowl winners. How about the last ten Academy Award-winning movies? The last five Nobel Prize winners? No? I didn’t do well either. Apart from a few trivia nuts, few of us remember past achievements. If you want to make a difference? Accomplishments is not the answer.
To make a difference you need to look beyond achievements. God has something else in mind. Paul says: “That is why we live by believing and not by seeing.” (2 Cor. 5:7) If we live by believing, then we must look past achievements. The answer? “So, our aim is to please him always.” (v9) We concentrate our creative energy in pleasing God.
Pleasing God is a good goal but how?” Paul answers in verse 11, “It is because we know this solemn fear of the Lord that we try to work so hard to persuade others.” The word “fear” in this case refers more to loving respect than terror. So, if we want to make a difference, Paul provides two steps to follow: Work on developing our relationship with God and try to influence others.
Let’s look at another quiz. See how you do on this one: Think of three people you enjoy spending time with. Name 5 friends who helped you through a difficult time. List two churches that made a difference in someone’s life. List three teachers who influenced your education. Easier? It was for me, too.
Making a difference can mean many things for many people: Justine felt called to lead the youth in ministry. Betsy felt the call to help hundreds discover their spiritual gifts. Fay visits shut-ins and works with older adults. Jim leads an organization that repairs run-down houses for the elderly and poor. Frank and his crew do construction chores for other churches and people in need.
Do you still want to make a difference? Work to improve your personal relationship with God. Join a Bible Study and spend time in prayer. Look around and ask God to help you see more clearly those who are hurting. Look for ways to actively help where you see a need. Say something encouraging to at least one person daily. When someone asks you for prayer, pray with them!
Remember, you are called to be involved in your church, your community, and your world. This isn’t everything, but it’s a good start. We can work to make a difference with friends, family, fellow employees, our local church, our community, and our needy world! What a relief. I can’t even remember this year’s super bowl winner.
Prayer Challenge: God, help me make a difference for someone today.
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