Have you ever been in search of the “one”? Maybe the “one” was the person you thought you’d spend the rest of your life with. Maybe the “one” was the perfect job, the perfect house, the perfect car or the perfect puppy. We believe the “one” is someone or something that will make us happy and fill our deepest needs.
And so we pursue the “one”.
Our society encourages us to not settle for less than the “one”. And many of us go through life feeling alone and empty because we never found that elusive “one”.
God also is in search of the “one”. He even tells His children to go out and look for the “one”. But God’s “one” is different.
Who is God’s “one”?
God’s “one” is anyone and everyone living outside the freedom and forgiveness of His grace. God instructs His people to “see to it that no ONE misses the grace of God.” Hebrews 12:15 God pursues the “one”, and He wants those of us living in the light of His Truth to reach out to the “one” with His love.
How can we possibly make a difference?
Have you heard the story of the boy and the starfish? There was a hurricane that churned the depths of the sea and hundreds of thousands of starfish began washing up on shore. As a man walked along the beach he saw a young boy pick up a starfish and throw it back into the ocean. He watched for a few minutes as the boy continued to pick up starfish after starfish and throw them into the waves. The man knew the boy was trying to save the starfish, but it was a lost cause. The beach was covered with them. He went up to the boy and said, “Son, I admire your determination to help the starfish, but you’re only one boy and there are hundreds of thousands of starfish here. You can’t make a difference.” Without pausing to look at the man, the boy picked up another starfish, threw it into the surf, and said, “I just made a difference to that one.”
We may feel like we’re only one person without much to offer. How can we really make a difference in this world? The truth is that sometimes the smallest act of love, forgiveness and grace can have a huge impact in someone’s life. We don’t have to save the world. But by reaching out to “one”, their life may be changed forever. When we offer ourselves to others by extending the same grace that God gave to us, God will work through us. And one by one, lives will be changed. Including ours.
If you aren’t sure you believe that God can wash you clean of your past and bring you to new life, know this: God is pursuing you. Right now. He knows you, He loves you, and He is waiting for you to turn to Him. You are the one He wants with Him for eternity. You are the one He wants to live a joy-filled life here and now.
If you know God and love Him but don’t know what you can do that will really make a difference, ask God to show you “one”: one person, one geographical area, one ministry that you can begin serving. One person can make a big impact by starting with one small act of service. And if we all helped just one person, there would be more lives touched than we could ever imagine.
Helping millions of people is amazing. Helping millions of people is possible. But to get to a million, we have to start with one. Let’s help one today.
If you’d like to hear more about helping “one”, watch this powerful message by Michael Frost, guest speaker at Bent Tree Bible Fellowship. His story of a changed life at the end of the message shows how one humble person can literally save an entire community.
“See to it that no ONE misses the grace of God.” Hebrews 12:15
May I pray?
Heavenly Father, thank You that You pursue each and every ONE of us, even if we don’t really know You yet. And thank You for giving us the opportunity to come alongside You as we reach out to others with the love, forgiveness and grace that You have so freely given us. Open our eyes to see where we can help just one, and give us the courage to reach out in Your strength. Amen.
Q4U: Who is one person you can reach out to today?