People Matter Daily Devotional: September 27

A Word From God’s Word
Many Samaritans from that town believed in Him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me all that I ever did.’ So when the Samaritans came to Him, they asked Him to stay with them, and He stayed there two days. And many more believed because of His word.

John 4:39-41 (NASB)

A Word From Pastor Chuck
When I read this account, I am reminded of the story of Pastor Izidor. He arrived in Les Cayes, Haiti on October 11, 1992. All he had with him was a bicycle, his wife, and a great faith that God had called him to reach the people of Les Cayes.

Within ten years, he had started 75 churches, 54 schools, and “The Children of Israel Orphanage.” The first school he started had over 1400 students during the day and offered adult classes in the evening.

Pastor Izidor wasn’t a man of great physical stature or a man of great wealth. He was just an ordinary man with a great faith in an even greater God. Pastor Izidor changed his community and he changed Haiti, not by his own power, but by the power of God’s living word. He knew his community mattered to God. And He made a difference.

The point is that one person can make a difference in their community when they understand the people of their community matter to God.

You and I are just ordinary people. But we serve an extraordinary God. We serve a God who loves the people of western New York. They matter to Him. And God has placed us here for a reason. We can make a difference. We can transform our community, one life at a time, through the power of God’s living word. All God asks of us is to tell people about our Savior, Jesus.

We don’t have to be theologians. We don’t have to be great public speakers. We don’t even have to be perfect. The woman at the well certainly wasn’t perfect, but people listened to her because they wanted to know God. We simply tell people what we know, and we know Jesus. We just tell them the difference He has made in our life. Jesus will take care of the rest, just like He did in Samaria.

Rev. Chuck Whited is the Pastor at First Trinity.

A Word With God
Gracious Father, we want our lives to count. We want to make a difference in our community because we know the people of Western New York matter to You. Work in our heart so that we see people as You see them. Help us to love them as You love them. Then give us faith and courage to tell them about Your love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.