Written by Christians sometimes feel as though they do not fit into society. The news of the day and other peoples opinions of it are often very different from ours. I am often amazed when I speak to people who are not Christians. I am often shocked by the attitudes and opinions which they hold. The reason for this difference is that as a Christian we are aliens in this present world.
Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 1 Peter 2:11 (NIV)
The longer one walks with the Lord the more you realize how different God’s ways are from the ways of the world. When we dwell on how different this world is from what Christ’s will is it is easy for us to become discouraged and think “Why bother, why not just give up we are obviously not making any real difference in the world”?
When you feel this discouragement remember Jesus and his disciples faced enormous obstacles also. He taught them two parables that encouraged them to be the good news and trust God for the results.
1. Do not be afraid of small beginnings.
According to Jesus great things can come from small beginnings. Jesus taught His disciples;
“What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches. Luke 13:18-19
The mustard seed is the smallest of the garden seeds, yet it may grow to a height of 30 feet in a single season. Jesus is teaching His followers that the kingdom will start small yet it will grow.
2. Never underestimate the power of God to transform the world.
A little yeast can leaven a great amount of flour.
Again he asked, “What shall I compare it to? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.” Luke 13:20-21
The lesson is that kingdom men and women can and will make an enormous difference in this world, as we live tranformed lives. Are you making a difference for the kingdom by the way you are living?
You may not think that your are. If you are trying to live the Christian life but are discouraged by the results you see around you remember the words of the old hymn Little Is Much When God Is in It.
In the harvest field now ripened There’s a work for all to do;
Hark! the voice of God is calling To the harvest calling you.Little is much when God is in it! Labor not for wealth or fame.
There’s a crown and you can win it, If you go in Jesus’ Name.In the mad rush of the broad way, In the hurry and the strife,
Tell of Jesus’ love and mercy, Give to them the Word of Life.Does the place you’re called to labor, Seem too small and little known?
It is great if God is in it, And He’ll not forget His own.Little is much when God is in it! Labor not for wealth or fame.
There’s a crown and you can win it, If you go in Jesus’ Name.Are you laid aside from service, Body worn from toil and care?
You can still be in the battle, In the sacred place of prayer.When the conflict here is ended, And our race on earth is run,
He will say, if we are faithful, Welcome home, My child well done!Little is much when God is in it! Labor not for wealth or fame.
There’s a crown and you can win it, If you go in Jesus’ Name.
Quit worrying about results. Trust the results to God! We just need to be the best seed and most active leaven we can be!
Today as I drove to the center in Etown, I prayed…out loud…I know I look crazy when I do this, but when you hear yourself, it sometimes seems more real and less overwhelming. This is what I prayed:
God, thank you for meeting my needs yesterday.
You met them yesterday and the day before that…
You met them a hundred times before that…
And a hundred times before the hundred times.
Please meet my needs today, and help me meet any need that you send my way.
Help me keep my eyes and ears open to what is going on with the others around me so that I can focus on someone other than myself.
And, God, at the end of the day I hope you can look at me and say, good job, Brenda.
I find that I pray this particular prayer as I drive to and from Etown, several times a week, and I am learning every day, that the long-term problems and fears really disappear, so that I can focus on this moment, this situation, this family, this person. I am so thankful for Christian radio, as well, because often I can conclude my prayer time with some encouraging music. Often I feel like I am looking for God in my life, but He is always there, it is just times like this when I am not moving around that He is better able to get my attention.