What does it take to change the world? Most of us won't likely be presented with the opportunity to be a catalyst of change to the degree that Martin Luther was. Nevertheless, all of us as God's children are given the privilege to be agents of change in the world around us.
For Luther that meant becoming an igniter of reformation within the Church. For you and me it will mean something unique, set within the context of our gifts, and within our circle of influence. Likely different in the breadth and scope of a Luther, but just as significant because it will reside within the unique opportunity God has intended for you and me.
A few weeks ago, I was reminded of the importance of venturing out to do the thing we believe God would have us do, even if the road conditions are scattered with potholes and the ultimate destination too distant to see.
I was told a true story of an elderly man who felt God's compulsion to venture daily to a busy seaport to confront people about their relationship to Christ. As the story went, one man who travelled extensively was confronted and later turned his life over to Christ. In the following years, this same man would meet people around the world whose relationship with Christ had also been ignited by the elderly man's simple but faithful query.
After so many seemingly coincidental interactions with people whose lives had been changed by the elderly gentleman, the traveller decided he must go back to that same seaport to find the man and share what he had heard. There he found the gentleman, and reported the good news.
The elderly man began to weep. After so many years of being faithful to the task to which he believed God had called him, he had never, ever heard of even one person coming to know Christ. But now he knew first-hand—his faithfulness had been the catalyst for changing lives all around the world.
So what does it take to change the world? For Luther it was his faithfulness and courage. And it's our faithfulness and courage that will change the world for those around us, perhaps even those whom we will never know. So with the same faithfulness and courage, let’s continue changing our world today.
Just a thought…
