WHAT IS YOUR IMPACT ON THE WORLD?

Places of beauty bring refreshment to the heart.  Like the photo (Colorado 2005 by Tim Kiefer) below on the left.  We see that beauty and our hearts are filled with joy.  That beauty is also intended to prompt a heart of praise to God as it gives evidence of His awesome creating hand.  Scenes like the one below it, taken on the Gulf Coast as workers clean up the aftermath of the BP Oil Spill; remind us of the ugliness and consequences introduced into the world by our human sin and shortcomings.  Let me be among the first to admit that I introduce far too many consequences into a world desperately in need of grace.

"This world is no friend of grace" goes the words of a song I once heard.  In other words, this world is a place where our basic sinfulness can make a vicious cycle where even those who want to walk in step with God find it an all too difficult task.  The apostle Paul talks about this inner struggle when he says, "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?" (Romans 7:24). Without any help from our friends, it is all too easy to step away from God and abandon the holiness of His gracious calling upon our lives.

Jesus speaks of another kind of problem that is introduced into our lives. And that is the influence of others.  Speaking to his disciples Jesus said, "The things that cause man to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person who causes another to stumble."  Perhaps that's why we should not only examine our lives for whether or not we see; but also on whether or not in our words and actions we cause others to sin - either by example or enablement or in reaction to our sin.  Ultimately we are to keep our lives free from sin not simply to assure our own salvation; but also to remove the stumbling blocks and bad examples that might keep others from receiving theirs.

The writer of Hebrews speaks a powerful word of reminder "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness." (Hebrews 3:13)          

So what is your impact on the world? Are you a friend of grace reminding people that God is at work to give us the healing of forgiveness and the blessing of new life? Do your words and actions provide a model of "the more perfect way"--the way of God's love?

Many years ago it was my privilege to get acquainted with a wonderful Bible teacher named Jill Briscoe.  Jill had a prayer that she shared at the conclusion of most of her speaking engagements. It went like this, "Lord, help me to be the blessing that I am blessed to be."  What a wonderful prayer--one that if we pray, God will answer and there will be no question that our impact on this difficult world will be one that points people to God's amazing grace and unconditional love.