You Are Making an Impact
When you become a follower of Jesus Christ, life is different. You move from darkness to light. Death to life. Hopelessness to joy. A chaotic life to a life of purpose.
God works in you to do something new because you have made a choice to no longer live in sin but to live a holy and righteous life. Due to your new faith in Jesus, you begin to make life choices that are honoring to God. That is what Peter is talking about to the Christian church in 1 Peter 2: 11-12. He says,
"Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
Peter calls the Christians of his time to live as a foreigner and exile in this world. That seems strange how can we be a foreigner and exile in our world? Simply because we should be different. We live, walk, speak, and do things differently because we under the direction of God.
But sometimes the road to holiness or discipleship is hard because that same verse also says live good lives even though people accuse you of doing wrong.
Unfortunately, as you do what is right, you will face pressure for doing right. Like when you told the truth and your boss decided to fire you. Like when you said to your boyfriend or girlfriend, I want to be sexually pure and they left you anyways. When you told your family, I need to give money to God and they said, “God is dead.”
Ouch. It doesn’t always feel good to walk an upright life, but no matter what do the right thing anyways. Because it matters what you do and what you do is making an impact. You see we live a holy life because “they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”
And that is the whole point my friends! We want others to see, taste, and know that God is good. If we don’t do what is right, how will others see God? How will they glorify God?
That is why it matters how you live.
It matters when you pray for someone because others see that you can talk to God.
It matters when you spend time worshipping God because others see that there is a God.
It matters when you give to God because others see that there is bigger cause greater than themselves.
It matters when you call someone who needs help because others see that we are the hands and feet of Jesus.
It matters when you donate to someone because you infuse hope in their lives.
It matters when you tell someone about Jesus because you plant a seed of someone knowing and having a relationship with our almighty God.
It matters.
You are making an impact.
Let that sink in.
All the time you pray, fast, serve, help, give, be hospitable, and tell the gospel news is making a difference.
Maybe you have been feeling discouraged because you feel you are not making a difference, but let me encourage you…..you are!
Don’t give up on God because he did not give up on us. He sent his Son Jesus Christ to die for us to have new life. Now, let us muster up the same energy and by the power of the Holy Spirit living in us, abstain from sin and live a holy life so that others can give their heart to God.
There is no greater joy than this, so let us press on!
Prayer: Father, thank you for this day. I live in a world of evil and temptations but you are greater. You gave me your Son Jesus Christ. You have given me the Holy Spirit to equip me, empower me, to strengthen me. May your power give me the ability to press on and live a right life. I pray for those around me who still have not given their heart to you. Let them see Christ in me and make the choice to choose you, Amen.
To watch the full sermon on this topic click here
