Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
School has started so watch out for the young’uns as they walk to school or wait for the bus. As we’re getting back into the swing of things, particularly, trying to be ready when the bus comes, I’m reminded of an incident that took place near the end of the last school year.
We were under a plague of flies and while waiting for the bus one morning, our grandson came to me and stated proudly and with determination, “I crushed one of those big flies; one down, a lot to go!”
That reminded me of a sermon illustration I heard years ago: A little boy was at the beach and each time a wave came in and receded, what looked like millions of starfish were left stranded. The boy was picking them up one at a time and throwing them back into the ocean. An adult who’d been watching told the boy that there were so many starfish that he couldn’t save them all, but as he picked up another starfish and threw it, the little boy responded, “Yea, but I just made a big difference for that one!” He was doing what he could to help the individuals he contacted.
Many times Christians feel that, because they don’t have one of the “great” talents (speaking, writing, or leadership), they can’t have a great impact for God.
Some things (like what’s being taught in some churches) are far from the truth and the concept that one can’t make a positive contribution because they’re not talented or gifted in the same way as someone else or that they don’t have the elevated status others have is pretty far off base.
In 1 Corinthians chapters 12 and 13, Paul said we should eagerly desire faith, hope, and love, which are greater gifts than those mentioned above along with those that are no longer available (prophecy, healing, working miracles, and speaking in tongues).
When we desire and use the gifts of faith, hope, and love, we show the love of God by sharing our faith with others to give them the opportunity to have the hope of living with God for eternity, all of which they have to claim for themselves as God has directed (John 1:12; Galatians 3:26-4:7). This is why Paul said he’d do whatever he could to lead whoever he met to salvation (1 Corinthians 9:19-23).
Are you doing what you can to share your faith, hope, and love with others, even on a one-by-one basis?
Your attitude at home or work and how you perform your duties and behave should be a testimony to your faith without ever having to say a word (Ephesians 6:5-9; Colossians 3:22-4:1; 1 Peter 3:1-7).
Jesus publicly acknowledged a woman for just doing what she could and he’ll do the same for us if we do what we can (Mark 14:3-9; Matthew 10:23-33; 25:14-46). He doesn’t expect us to do more than we can, but he does expect us to do what we can.
Leonard Lauriault writes about faith for the Quay County Sun. Contact him at