You Can Make A Difference!

You Can Make a Difference!

Col 1:3-6

Intro.

Of the three network news cast, I prefer NBC because there is a segment at the end of the broadcast called “Making a Difference.” They report stories of individuals who have done just that—amazing stories of those who were not satisfied with the status quo, but worked for change that others might benefit.

Pastor John R Ramsey once wrote, “For some time I have had a person provide me with a rose boutonniere to pin on the lapel of my suit every Sunday. Because I always got a flower on Sunday morning, I really did not think much of it. It was a nice gesture that I appreciated, but it became routine. One Sunday morning as I was leaving the service, a small boy came up to me and said, “Pastor, what are you gong to do with that flower?” Before I could answer, he said, “I would like it if you are just going to throw it away.” At this point I smiled and told him he could have my flower. Then I asked him what he was going to do with it.

The little boy was probably less than 10 years old. H elooked up at me and said, “Sir, I’m going to give it to my granny. My mother and father got divorced last year. I was living with my mother, but when she married again, she wanted me to go to live with my father. I lived with him for a while, but he said I couldn’t stay, so he sent me to life with my grandmother. She is so good to me. She cooks for me and takes care of me. She ha been so good to me that I want to give that pretty flower to her for loving me.”

When the little boy finished, I could hardly speak, I was so moved. I reached up and unpinned my flower. I looked at the boy and said, “Son, that’s the nicest thing I have ever heard, but you can’t have this flower because it’s not enough. If you’ll look in front of the pulpit, you’ll see a big bouquet of flowers. I want you to take those to your granny because she deserves the very best.”

If Pastor Ramsey hadn’t been touched enough already, the boy made one last statement that he will always remember. He said, “What a wonderful day! I asked for one flower and got a whole bunch!”

How often do you brighten up the lives of others with special acts of kindness? How often do you look for opportunities to touch someone with God’s love?

Just like this pastor, you can make a difference in the lives of people.

Just like these Colossians that we read about, faith and love can spring from your hope to touch others.

You don’t have to be smart or rich or highly educated. Regardless of who you are, where you live, or how often you have failed, you can still make a difference. That’s the message of the Bible.

Are you anything like me? I mean, do you sometimes feel that the problems and cares of this world are so vast and I am so small, what can I do?

And yet I know that I am called to impact my world for Christ. Really, there are lots of reasons that we should try. Let me suggest three that are of utmost importance.

1. BECAUSE OUR WORLD DEPENDS ON OUR EFFORTS.

Our world would never survive if people did not help one another. We need each other to survive.

Where would this world be without Good Samaritans? What would have happened to the man who was robbed, beaten, and left for dead if that Samaritan hadn’t stopped to help? That begs a question: Where would we be without compassionate people?

Illus.: Video Clip of Homeless Man on Park Bench

Homeless man is seated on a park bench during the noon hour. A business woman sits on the other end of the bench, begins to eat her sandwich, paying no attention to the man. Two children, boy and girl come along and sit down next to the man. They open their lunch bags and are about to eat when they decide to give their lunches to the homeless man. After doing so, they leave. A few seconds later, they come back and give the homeless man a hug. The contrast between the actions of the woman and the children is vivid in deed.

Another reason we should bother to make a difference is…

2. OUR FULFILLMENT IN LIFE DEPENDS ON IT

Jesus never told His audience how the Good Samaritan felt when he left the inn and continued on his journey. But I’m sure that he felt fulfilled because he had done something useful and good for his fellow man.