It’s the Little Things

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“He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.’”                                                                       – Mark 16:15

He sat in the back row of the church, a guest of the cutest girl in the school.  He listened to the words of the choir as they sang out “Holy – Holy – Holy” but if truth be told he couldn’t get his mind off of her.  She sat with her parents and family about 5 rows in front of him, so he steal a glimpse of her from time to time without making it obvious.  On the other hand she had to turn around and look over her shoulder when the opportunity came.  One time her father saw her gaze last a little longer than necessary and with narrowed eyes he looked back at the young man.  The message was clearly sent without saying a word.

As the young man sat the minister walked to the podium to begin the sermon with the scripture from Mark 16:15.  It was not the first time the boy had been in church, nor heard these words, but something was different this time.  The words actually echoed through his mind and opened his eyes to the sheer size of this task.  In a sort of out of body experience he could envision small churches all across his city, then his state, and his country filled with people that morning.  People hurting, crying, laughing and searching.  Yet what struck this young man more than anything was the realization that of the 300+ million people in America, less than 50 million would actually attend a service that day.  And this is the most Christian nation on earth

Most would think about this and shrug their shoulders without a care.  Every now and then though the Holy Spirit grabs a hold of someone’s heart and convicts them to do something about it.  We think of the missionary field outside of our own borders, in 3rd world countries and remote areas of the world.  The reality of it is that there are people all around you every single day that are not familiar with the love of God the Father and Jesus Christ.  Many of us think someone else will reach them, there are organizations for that and they can reach out to the broken hearted and those in need.  This is a call on every one of us, not some, but all. 

Look within your own house.
Look at your extended family.
Look at your neighbors.
Look at your friends.
Look at your co-workers or other students.
The likelihood is that 60% of these individuals do not have a relationship with God and if tomorrow the world came to an end, they would not get a second chance.  Have you ever thought beyond your own place in eternity and thought of those around you?  Your small circle of influence reaches 50 – 100, maybe 250 people, and I guarantee there are those inside of that circle that will perish one day without His salvation.  What stops us from taking hold of this scripture and making it our life purpose?  Fear, embarrassment, time, confidence, money and the list goes on.  We are great at making excuses – how valid are those excuses on the day of Christ’s return?

It’s not about preaching to millions, like Billy Graham, it is about sharing the love of Jesus Christ with those who need to hear it.  Sometimes, your step of reaching out to another will ignite a fire in that person who may one day become the next Billy Graham.  Put your fears and selfcenteredness aside for a few moments and think about those you might be able to reach, then do something about it. 

© Sondove Enterprises, 2012
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