Day 19—Change Your World

““You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5:14–16, NLT)

Every so often someone will come along whose purpose in life is to do something that affects the whole nation, or even influences the world. Maybe they will do so through being elected to a high political office; maybe they will affect culture through great success in the arts or the media, or sports; maybe they’ll write a best selling book, or find celebrity status in some way that gives them the platform to influence the people of many nations. Maybe they are called to have an international ministry with offices on multiple continents.

You could be one of those people. But the truth is you’re probably not.

That’s why I often say this to the people that we pastor—you may not be called to change THE world, but you are absolutely, positively, without doubt, called by God to change YOUR world. 

By your world I mean your sphere of influence. The people that you do life among every day. You live with them, work with them, go to school with them, play with them, go to church with them, volunteer with them, and serve them in your line of work. 

Here’s an easy way to realize who is in your world of influence, and part of the world that you can change:

Your people—your family and close circle of friends; the people you are with at  Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Your place—the people you work with, do business with, and move amongst in your every day life.

Your passion—the people that share common interests and hobbies. You may play softball or golf with them. An example is that when I was flying as a private pilot, it was the people I encountered regularly at airports and hangars that I felt responsible to influence for the Kingdom.

These are the people that you not only have the ability, but the responsibility to be an influence among. The light and love of Jesus should shine forth from you and illuminate their lives. These are the people you should pray for, because your prayer for them will influence them and affect their hearts and lives.