You Made the Difference! Not Really…
A few years ago Judy and I sat in our dining room with a couple that had been part of a church we had pastored. She was dying of cancer and he was taking her on her “farewell tour.” As you might imagine, it was an emotional evening.
During one of Judy’s special “you’re important to us” meals, I couldn’t help thinking about the first time we met them. They had just moved to our part of the country to get away from Southern California. Both were pretty much fed up with church, but they saw and heard things in our fellowship that encouraged them to give church one more try. I remembered the men and women who discipled them, and their eventual joy in actually being used by God.
And now, here they were, back in Southern California, sitting around our table. The church both of us had held so dear had imploded and scattered the sheep. Judy and I had moved on with our lives here at Church of the Open Door, but they seemed stuck in their “Ed and Judy” memories.
“It hasn’t been the same since you left. You’re just so special. If it weren’t for you two, we would never have come back to the Lord.”
“We’re trying to find a new church, but nothing measures up. Ed, we miss your preaching. There won’t be another church like we had back then.”
“You two made the difference in our lives.”
I had to interrupt them with a pretty disruptive, “Not really!”
And then I reminded them of Who really made the difference in their lives. It wasn’t my preaching, Judy’s warmth and charm, the disciplers in their lives, or even the exciting church that sadly fell apart.
It was Someone else.
His name is Jesus.
Do you find yourself living in the past or giving credit to mere men and women for what Christ has done in your life?
Maybe it’s time to move on with the One who makes all the difference.
His name is Jesus.
“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” –Jesus Christ, Hebrews 13:5
Great post Ed. Someone recently asked me to do a 10 question “Who Am I” questionnaire. #10 was “What would you like to ask God when you meet him face to face one day?” My answer: “Did I make a difference in anyone’s life and point them to YOU?” I’m reminded of Gal.6:14: “May I never boast except in the cross of Christ.” It is Jesus. It is all about Him.
I have spent the last fews hours reading over your site and I am so refreshed by your candid thoughts that I just wanted to thank you. God has surely blessed you in your ability to communicate! I will be ordering your books in the near future and look forward to more of your writings and videos. May God Bless you and your ministry, and send his ministering angels to bring you into a complete and speedy recovery from your illness..
Thank you for the kind words.
I appreciate the kind words. If you want an autographed copy, you can order through this website.
Ed