The LORD looked at him and said, “Go in this your strength and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you?” [Gideon] said to Him, “O LORD, how shall I deliver Israel? Behold, my family is the least in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s house.” But the LORD said to him, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat Midian as one man.” (Judges 6:14-16, NASB)
This devotional reaches many golfers at country clubs and golf courses daily. A lot of you are currently involved in your local church, a small group Bible study, or a Links Fellowship where you meet and study together. Many of you understand that your life with Jesus is simply a response to knowing and loving Jesus. And by getting involved, God makes a difference in the lives of others, using you in the process.
God can and will make a difference, and he may just use you.The message today is more directed to those who are not involved and sitting on the sidelines. I know many will say, “What can I do to really make a difference? I am just one person with limited talents and resources. I don’t have the knowledge or expertise to really do anything that will make a big difference in the world today.”
Let’s start here: It doesn’t take a lot of knowledge to encourage someone or to be kind to others.
The big difference in making a difference is to remember that it’s not about you. It’s not about someone noticing who you are and what you are doing. It is about God using you uniquely for a purpose. Others may never know your name or your contribution. But God’s grand plan uses sinners like you and me.
In 1 Samuel 9:5-10, an unmanned servant played a vital role in bringing Saul to Samuel. From that meeting, Saul became the first king of Israel. A servant no less, and we do not know his name.
In Acts 23:16-22, Paul’s unnamed nephew (the son of Paul’s sister) had the bravery and conviction to go to the Roman commander and divulge the impending plot of the Jews to kill Paul the next day as he would be led to the council. The commander believed the young boy and Paul’s life was spared. This was before Paul was inspired to write the letters to the Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, and his second letter to Timothy. We might not have those letters but for the courage of this young man.
And finally in Judges 7:6-8, the Lord reduced Israel’s army from 32,000 to 300. Who were these 300? We will never know their names. The Bible doesn’t tell us, but God knows. He was with them and they were victorious. That is the important part. God is indeed with us, and we can do all things through him.
So what do we do? We step out and ask God to help us like the unnamed servant, Paul’s nephew, and the 300 appointed by God for his victory over the Midianites.
God can and will make a difference, and he may just use you. That will matter very much indeed.
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Randy Wolff
October 4, 2016
Copyright 2016 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.