This last week, Terry Jones, a pastor in Gainesville, Florida, drew worldwide attention when he proclaimed “9/11” as “International Burn a Koran Day,” threatening to host a Koran-burning ceremony in Gainesville. Before the Internet, CNN, and ‘YouTube,’ the remarks of a little-known, tiny church pastor would have gone unnoticed. But the uproar created by this underscores how we are living in at a time when anyone—one person— really can change the world: for better or worse!
You could argue that this formerly unheard of pastor was just trying to make a difference. But I am just glad the Bible does not mandate me to change THE world, but only to be His instrument for changing the world in which I live—my small sphere.
The Bible says that each of us has been given a sphere of influence. Paul says "God… has determined the times set for [each of us] and the exact places where [we] should live" (Acts 17:26). Moreover, Paul declares that God has “created us… to do the good things [good works] He planned for us long ago [before the world was created!]” (Ephesians 2:10 NLT). So then, our sphere is the exact place where we live (where God placed us) and our influence will be in doing the 'good works' He created us to do there. Can one person change the world? Probably. But I am more concerned about changing the one where I live. How are you doing in yours?
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