I have found that God will place me in people’s lives, and others in my life, at strategic times for specific reasons. There are no accidents and no coincidences. Nothing is random. He has a purpose and a plan. We need only to pay attention and obey. When you meet someone for the first time,
• don’t assume that you know what the introduction is about or not about;
• don’t dismiss him or her based on any personal biases or judgments;
• don’t overlook the opportunity because you are too busy, distracted, or self-focused; and
• don’t assume how someone communicates or thinks or what the other person wants or needs.
Create a new habit of offering up a silent prayer, like, God, how do you want me to serve this person? Show me what you want. You might be amazed by how God starts to honor and answer those prayers. I know that so many times, I have been amazed by this.
In Matthew 28:19, the Great Commission, Jesus implied that we should be making disciples as we go about life. As we daily live out what God created and ordained us to experience, the natural progression for a Christ follower is to make disciples for him. We live with a new focus and intention. Our part is simply to watch, respond, and obey God regarding those he places in our path.
Let me ask you a question: Who in your sphere of influence right now needs some kind of help?
Go ahead. Think through the list of people around you for whom you could somehow affect or change their circumstances. With something very small or something big but all within your means. That consideration is a game changer and an open door to make disciples and create a real difference.
Throughout the Gospels, we see that Jesus invested himself primarily in twelve men (the disciples) and two women (Mary and Martha). If the Son of God influenced the world with so few, then do we really need a vast network to do what he calls us to do every day? We don’t need everybody. But we do need those whom God intends to influence us and those we are called to affect.
God, help me to focus on the people you place in front of me and show me how best to serve them.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them inthe name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”
Matthew 28:19 ESV
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