Impacts
Dec 21 – Unknown Impacts
3:356 – Unknown Impacts

#faithbites #faithjourney Impacts

Setting

Call it a mid-life crisis, call it fatigue, call it whatever you want it, but I’ve been in a bit of a funk. I talked about this with my best friend and felt bad for being in a funk as I have been so blessed by God. Yesterday I posted on Facebook that I might discontinue #faithbites. I was surprised by the number of people who not only came out in support of it, they like to read it, but also very open about what might be going on. One friend said it could be a midlife crisis, and that is quite possible. But it’s something to turn over to God and ask. While I need to look into it, the impact of Faithbites is something that I didn’t know. Some people read it every day, others read it occasionally, and some didn’t know how often it was being published. The point is, it has an impact on people’s lives. I don’t know what the future is going to be, but there are impacts. I wouldn’t have known if I didn’t ask.

We never know the impacts our work has and on whom. Only God knows.

Scripture
  • Luke 6:48 – He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.
  • 1 Corinthians 3:13-16 – Each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
Reflection

A farmer plants his crops, tends his fields, and see the harvest at the end. An architect designs a building and works with a construction team to see her building constructed. Unlike these examples, much of the sowing and harvesting we do isn’t seen by us for years if at all. The teacher who changes the direction of a young girls life in second grade by being there when no one else was, may never see her become a teacher. A pastor who helped someone get the help they needed from addiction and turned around to be a great father and servant of God. The guy writing from his heart and shares God’s word daily on the internet who reaches that one person who felt alone and helped give them the strength to reach out.

Our verses show us that all work based in Christ Jesus, is like a wiseman building his house on the rock. When that man built his house, he didn’t know if it would flood but knew it was a possibility. He may never have seen a flood but his children who inherited the house were glad when the seas rose.

When we do our works, we need to look at what the possibilities may be. We have to be content that our works will serve their purpose even if we aren’t around to see it. This is a challenge for sure. God tells us that we will be rewarded for our efforts and our faith. We can get some answers by asking our friends, other impacts we have to just trust in the Lord that our works will be pleasing to him and he will make our efforts valuable to others.

Challenge

Are you wondering if you are having an impact on someone’s life? Is the effort you are putting in, worth it? The best way is to ask. You may get an answer today, but sometimes we just need to have the patience for the future and see. Seek not instant gratification but look to God for his love in all things.

Prayer

Father God, thank you for allowing us to have an impact on those around us. We pray that everything we do is pleasing to you and beneficial to those around us. Help us to see the impacts we have in all we do. We know there may be times to stop doing things and other times to start something new. We put our trust in you to tell us when to stop, start, and keep going with what we are doing. In you name, Amen.

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