BUILDING A DIFFERENCE

Life and Ministry

Sharing with Pastor Dapo Adeniyi

Building a difference

Reading randomly in the book of Nehemiah, the first lesson to learn there is that, anyone can make a difference.

The problem is that, we often think only a big difference is good enough.

The walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt one block at a time.

The Bible generally gives many examples of people who made a little difference where they were.

The important thing is to yield one’s self as a vessel in God’s hand to make a difference that can be felt.

A small difference is made that can be felt by someone and then it grows to affect a nation.

The Shunamite woman gave Elisha a little more than a cup of water and it brought miracles that were reported to the king, II Kings 4:37, 8:1-6.

David made a difference to the sheep he served in the field, and it led to his becoming the shepherd of all Israel.

Everyone is in a position to make a difference.

The most unlikely people, in the worst conditions of life, made a difference in the Bible.

Joseph was only a slave yet he made a little difference through a faithful spirit in Portiphar’s home.

He became a condemned inmate yet he continued to make a difference.

Over time, God used his faithfulness to turn the tide, and he became the Premier of all Egypt.

We also have the case of 4 lepers of Samaria in II Kings 7.

Among the fascinating examples is that of the little boy with 5 loaves and 2 little fishes at the crusade ground in Mat. 6:32-44.

He could have refused to go forward with his lunch pack because it was so little.

Also, one of the worst examples of missed opportunities is that of the man who buried his single talent in the parable that Jesus gave.

The book of Nehemiah begins with the author receiving news of the state of things in Jerusalem

His reaction produced a burden.

That burden drove him to pray

Prayer in turn opens one’s eyes to how we can begin to make a little difference.

We must always remember that things are never too late for a remedy.

Meaningful change begins with little things, especially when you are not in a position to take a big step.

It can look like a long way off but we can begin to do what we can.

The ruin or pile up of generations can thus begin to be rectified.

The walls of Jerusalem was rebuilt one stone at a time.

This is the irony of life: you can pull down in one day but it takes a step, a layer at a time, to build up.