The February 29th My Utmost asks, “What is the thing that not only disturbs you but makes you a disturbance?” He goes on to say, “It is always something you cannot deal with yourself.” He’s talking about the blind man in Luke 18:35-43 who persists in begging Jesus to heal him. Finally Jesus asks, “What do you want me to do for you?”
For several years, I have been disturbed at how little a difference I make. I’m disturbed that I’m part of a huge community of believers, people who claim to follow Jesus Christ, but our following Him doesn’t seem to make much of a dent in the world. If I followed Jesus more closely, would things change, faster or even at all?
What can I do today that makes a difference for eternity? Must I leave my job and go to work for a church? Must I leave the country and become a missionary?
I feel constrained by my circumstances. I have debt. Do I have to pay it all off before I can make a difference? I am overcommitted at work, not even through my own control. Must I leave my job to make a difference? I’m obligated with my family, wife, kids, or aging parents. God, have I taken myself out of the game? How can I bend my life so that I can be a part of Your work in our world?
What actions in the everyday life of a follower of Jesus actually make a difference?
Lord, may I remember you put me where I am and I can serve You there. (1 Corinthians 10:31, Colossians 3:17, 23-24). How would you have me follow You today? What are You going to do in and around me and what part might I play in it? Please use me for your glory today.
Step 1 for me is to remember I am called to minister, to serve others as a means of blessing them and also as a way to make them curious about the life Jesus gives. May I act when I see opportunities to serve people.
What disturbs you as a follower of Jesus? God put a disturbance in you. Bill Hybels called it a Holy Discontent. We were each created for a purpose (Colossians 2:10). Are you walking toward that purpose, making a disturbance, or are you simply going with the flow? How can I help you in the disturbance you need to make?
Part of my disturbance relates to the impact followers of Jesus have in the world. I’m in the process of starting an online community where we can encourage, equip, and mobilize one another to live our faith every day and make a difference right where we are. We’re calling the community Follower of One. If you’re interested in helping with the launch, please let me know in the comments below and I’ll notify you when we’re ready to test or launch. You can also check out these other posts here, here, and here, or by making a donation on our GoFundMe page, www.gofundme.com/followerofone. Thanks!
Photo © James Thew Fotolia
Mike Henry Sr. 
Mike,
Good to see you at OJT last Thursday. One thing I know is important to you an is to me is the spiritual aspect of the job search. We have never presented a program on this in the six years I have been involved.
The first time I heard you speak at OJT I said to myself, this guy gets up every day and looks for people to bless and expects it to happen. Me too. You always include that God has a plan for your life when you speak. Do we need to key on this so people can see that God does want to bless them ?
In January Gip and I helped a woman get the job as exec asst to the head minister at 1st Methodist. I called a woman who used to work for me and a partner. I asked her if she knew anyone who was looking for an admin job. It was actually for a job not connected with the church. She told me no but then she said her mother had just moved here from Houston and was looking for a job, and she had been working for a large church as an admin asst. I told her to have mom call me. She did and came to OJT. She also prayed and was believing God to open doors. Then Gip calls me and asks if I know anyone who would be a fit for the exec asst job at 1st. I said yes we do. He got her an interview and she was hired ! (there were 143 that applied for this job). Without God you couldn’t put all that together on a good day.
Why can’t we tell the people that things like this can happen for them too ? Jesus was practical.
Just some Monday thoughts that I hope encourage,
Leonard Reitz
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Thanks Leonard. To answer your question, I’d say we each need to answer it for ourselves. That’s why I appreciate being able to present my thoughts about God and how He is in control. Others may choose not to agree. I believe as long as we can be responsible individually for our own beliefs, we can have dialogue. When we start projecting those beliefs onto others, they tune us out.
I appreciate your service to our community through OJT. Thanks for what you do and thanks too, for this note. I appreciate you.
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