He Has You

We get it wrong when we think an effective ministry is one that reaches many. It is our pride that tells us we would be more effective for the Lord if we reached more souls in our ministry. It is worldly thinking that makes us wish we were more popular than we are.

Kingdom success is not measured by how many you reach but by your obedience to reaching the one you were called to. “Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, ‘Arise and go…’…So he arose and went…” (Acts 8:26-27 NKJV).

What we need to understand is that it is more important that we are living for the purposes of God more than we are popular with many people. God has a purpose for you, and it may be to only reach one, and if we do that, we will be blessed by Him for all we have done.

The most significant thing you can do is in doing every small thing God calls you to do. “So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do” (2 Thessalonians 1:11 NLT).

The Lord may have more than one person He will have you reach in your life. But if even He only has one for you, then reach that one. It may be your child or a parent that the Lord wants you to care for. It may be a sibling that needs your help. Whatever it is, do it for the Lord.

It doesn’t matter how big your calling is, but only that you do it. “As each one has received some spiritual gift, he should use it to serve others, like good managers of God’s many-sided grace” (1 Peter 4:10 CJB).

Some of the most powerful ministries in the world are not what is preached on stages but what is done in obscurity for a single soul. We cannot help everybody, but we can help somebody, and that somebody is whoever God places in your path.

Be to others what you wish someone would be to you. “Do to others what you want them to do to you. This is the meaning of the law of Moses and the teaching of the prophets” (Matthew 7:12 NCV).

Reaching one means much more when you are that one. Consider who has helped you in your life the most. It probably wasn’t anyone famous or popular, but it was someone that thought the world of you. Be that someone to the one God puts before you.

The lack of Kingdom work is not because Christians won’t do the big things, but they won’t do the small things. Jesus taught, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all” (Mark 9:35 NKJV).

One of my favorite stories is about a lady named Monica who lived in the fourth century. She was from North Africa but had traveled to Italy to be near her son. Her son was living a wild life far from the Lord, and so he became the ministry for Monica.

If you’re going to pray for a little, you may as well pray for a lot. “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Ephesians 3:20 NKJV).

You have probably never heard of her before. She is written about much and never became popular in the world. Yet her ministry has touched millions. Her son was named Augustine, and his writing revolutionized the Christian world. His influence continues to shape Christianity today.

The life you live is the legacy you leave. Paul wrote to Timothy, “When I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also” (2 Timothy 1:5 NKJV).

And who reached Monica? And the person before them. We have no idea what the fruit will be from the seeds we are planting. That is ok; just keep planting seeds. It might be your prayers or a practical help to someone that expands beyond anything you can imagine.

Your legacy, when people look back, is built upon what you do today. “The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him.” (Proverbs 20:7 NKJV).

In the kingdom, it is the littlest of things that cause the biggest of changes. Be willing to do the little things. Don’t worry if you are not popular; just be faithful to whatever God is calling you to do. It will be His approval alone that will matter in heaven.

It’s better to have a greater impact on one than little to no impact on many. “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature’” (Mark 16:15 NKJV).

Blessings to you,

Paul Balius