Making A Difference

American businessman, motivational speaker, and futurologist, Joel A. Barker, tells the story of a wise individual - who was a writer - who would go to the beach to do his writing. Before he began his work, he would go for a walk along the shore, One day, during his daily walk, he spied an individual doing what appeared to be dancing to the day! Smiling to himself, he began to walk faster so that he could catch up with this amazing individual!

As he got closer, he saw that it was a young man; and, he wasn’t dancing - he was reaching down to pick something up; and, gently throwing it into the ocean. Getting even closer, he called out, "Good morning! What are you doing?" The young man paused, looked up; and, replied, "Throwing starfish into the ocean."

The writer said, "I guess I should have asked, ’Why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?’" "The sun is up and the tide is going out. And, if I don’t throw them in they’ll die" came the reply! "But young man, don’t you realize that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it. You can’t possibly make a difference!"

The young man listened politely; then, he bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the ocean, far past the breaking waves. ’It made a difference for that one,’ he said!”

John 21:25 (KJV)

25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

Jesus is all about making a difference…

Just as the young man changed the fate of the star fish that he could reach, So does Jesus even now reach for us…

His intent is simple, make a difference for each one that he can touch…

We too, must make a difference for those we touch…

Let me say it this way, we must touch them before we can make a difference…

They don't care how much you know, till they know how much you care…

As we gear up for the big Easter push, we need to be aware of how we are perceived…

How does your friends and family look at you?

How do you see your friends and family?

Are you offended by the way you are perceived?

There is nothing more offensive that being viewed in a manner that you would deem minimizing or belittling…

It may be true, but that doesn't make it any less hurtful…

Perhaps you have worked on improving yourself in a certain area, and you run into someone that only remembers that aspect of you…

May its where you live… or were born… a speech impediment… perhaps a physical trait… you were over weight… or under weight…

When someone identifies you as something you use to be… perhaps you have even worked at changing that area of your life…you have taken pride in your accomplishment’s… but that one reminder of who you were can effect how you operate in the presents of the one that remembers…

Jesus understands…

Mark 6:1-7King James Version (KJV)

6 And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.

2 And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?

What limited Jesus?

It was not his lack of love, after all he is love…

It was the the opinions of those that were in the church that day…

What had they heard Jesus was doing? What was the mighty works they acknowledged?

verse one states that he went out from hence and came to his own country….

where he had left was the country of the Gaderenes!

What happened there?

He was perceived as a deliverer…

Legion met him at the shore…

But fear of those who know legion rose and they told Jesus to leave…

Again perfect love is effected by the opinions of the crowd…

Jesus was leaving and Legion was so moved by him that he begged to come along…

He didn't want the attitude of those around him to effect his victory…

Jesus told him to go home to his friends and tell them how great things the Lord had done for him and how he had compassion for him… The men marveled at his story…

His testimony was stronger than his haters…

Jesus was rushed out of town and he crossed the sea again the people had came out, and this time he was perceived to be a healer…