Everywhere Paul and his companions went people’s lives were changed. ¹For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain (King James Version). People’s lives changed radically. People who were lost, saw the light and started going in the right direction.

What an example they were to us. We must be like that too. Everywhere we go, people’s lives must change because we had been there. Like Rita:

We tend to look for major breakthroughs when and where the Lord uses us. But it is not the size that is important, it is whether one is obedient when the Holy Spirit puts a desire in your heart.

No, not a desire for something for myself, but something that might tell someone else about his love. This is such a story, or rather a testimony, of something where the desire that the Holy Spirit had placed in me had resulted in something amazing.

My daughter is involved with a man and his son, both drug users. Both father and son often came to our house and I became very fond of them. When the son had his birthday in May last year, I really wanted to give him a present, but I was stumped: what kind of present do you give to a 15-year old boy?

The desire came into my heart and I bought him his own Bible, something that was quite unfamiliar to him.

Now, a year later, he is being rehabilitated. My daughter visited him and guess what he said to her? “I remembered to pack my Bible and I am reading it now.”

How great is our God!

I’m convinced this is the first step to recovery and maybe he will be able to help his dad to come to Jesus. Let’s stop accusing and judging. Stop and listen where God can use you to make a difference!

Like Paul of old, people’s lives change where Rita goes. Paulus said: ¹So, friends, it’s obvious that our visit to you was no waste of time.  That was true for Rita’s life.

Even in the construction industry people make a difference. Sylvia from Windhoek told the following story:

The building where I work has been under construction for about six months – with the result that I had to take various detours from the parking area to my office. 

This morning I again had to find my way through the electricity cables. As I walked along, I saw a group of about 40 construction workers gathering. 

My first thought was that their supervisor was probably telling them what had to be done that day. I was totally surprised when the person in charge asked one of the men to pray for them.

I had goosebumps, because this is not something that you often see in our busy lives, when men of all races take hands and start their day’s work with prayer. 

I stormed to the office to tell my colleagues in our lovely air-conditioned office of this wonderful happening.  Many just looked at me, but some also had goosebumps as I told them about what had happened. One colleague said that they had also tried some years before to have a morning service, but that it had been stopped very quickly because it had interfered with their working hours.  

Let’s take hands and make sure that people’s lives will change wherever we go. Let’s pray and ask the Holy Spirit to lead us where God wants us to be his hands and feet. The world needs it so much.

Scripture

1 Thessalonians 2:1-4

Reflection

Are people being changed where you are?

Are people being saved?

How must you live differently?

Prayer

Father, please help me to live in such a way that my contact with other people is not in vain. I want to make a difference; I want to show that Your love is inside me. Please help me to talk freely about Your love and salvation. Amen.