Good morning:
Every day for months, dump trucks and construction vehicles have rumbled down the street past church heading for a major building project nearby. At times those trucks have been going far above the 25 mph speed limit. It’s dangerous to runners, bikers, and children walking to school. However, I’ve hesitated in contacting the village police department thinking that the concerns of one person likely won’t make a difference. If the person were someone influential and powerful, yes. But what difference can an ordinary individual make? And if it’s questionable that we can make a difference in a minor neighborhood issue, what are the prospects for having any impact on the much greater problems facing the world in general?
But don’t underestimate your ability to truly make a difference in the world. Look at the apostles. They were ordinary men, yet through their preaching, thousands came to believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior. The power did not lie in the apostles themselves, but in the Spirit working through the Word. It wasn’t the messengers, but the message itself that the enemies of Christ could not stop. Paul wrote, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes” (Rom. 1:16).
Tomorrow we will observe mission festival and focus on the Lord’s commission to go and make a difference by making disciples of all nations. We thank the Lord for missionaries who travel to the far corners of the world to preach the good news. We pray for their safety and health and for the success of the Word.
Let’s not forget that we too have been entrusted with the Word in order to make a difference in the lives of people around us. In bringing infants to the Lord in baptism, parents make a huge difference in the lives and futures of their children. When mealtime prayers, daily devotions, and reminding one another of God’s presence in life are priorities, it can make a lasting difference for generations. Warnings of sin and its consequences spoken by an ordinary believer can make a difference on the hardest of hearts, because God’s power is at work. The message of forgiveness and eternal life in Christ can calm the most anxious heart, because it is the peace of God which transcends all understanding.
Make a difference today! Pray for the opportunity to speak the Word to someone in your life. Invite them to join us tomorrow to hear more of the gospel. “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15).
Yours in Christ,
Pastor
Services tomorrow are at 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. Pastor Rob Sauers of Luther Memorial, Fond du Lac, will be our guest speaker. A special mission presentation will be held at 9:15 a.m. The children will sing in second service. No Sunday school tomorrow.
Everyone is welcome to stay for a potluck meal following second service. Bring a main dish, side dish, or dessert to share.
