You Can Absolutely Make an Impact

“How can I make an impact for Jesus when I’m not a pastor or preacher?” That’s actually a pretty popular question in Christian circles these days. You know what? I’m finding out that you don’t have to go to seminary and preach award-winning sermons or head overseas to convert people who’ve never heard the Good News. You can make an impact wherever you are.

The Bible actually deals with this in several verses, so let me offer a couple. The first one involves the place many of us spend most of our time: at work! During the drudgery and repetition of day-to-day living, we can impact others. Colossians 3:23 is a wonderful verse that reminds us of the importance of work: “In whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord and not for men.”

It IS possible to make an impact wherever you are!

Want to make it even simpler than that? How about Galatians 5:13, which says, “Serve one another in love.” That means serving one another is a core Christian act, and not just a vocational command.

If you stop and think about it, there’s a reason God doesn’t call everyone to be ministers or pastors. If we were all pastors or missionaries, there’s a lot of work that would go undone. Most people live outside of the pulpit, with everyday jobs to do. Why can’t that be a mission field? What an opportunity to “let your light shine before men?”

Matthew 5:16 said, “Let your light shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven.” And it can be the simplest of things. When we meet someone’s needs in the name of Jesus, we bring honor to His name. After all, Jesus said something as simple as giving a “child a glass of water in His name” is something that will be rewarded.

What happens if, during the course of meeting the simplest of needs, someone asks you why you are like that? Why are you so different from everyone else? What an opportunity to say, “I’m loving God and loving other people,” or how about, “I’m living out my faith.” (It would be a great time to invite someone out to coffee and talk more about it.)

People can argue with your faith, but my father-in-law, Greg Bourgond, was 100 percent right when he said people cannot argue with a life well-lived. A well-lived life can be so much more persuasive and impactful than a brilliant 40-minute sermon.

One of the wisest sayings I’ve heard in recent memory is “grow where you’re planted.” I came across this saying once again on medium.com. There are so many ways to serve God that many people either may not think of or don’t realize they are already doing.

A dad can serve God by leading his family in prayer at the dinner table. A mom can raise her children and teach them to know the Lord, especially if she’s blessed enough to stay at home and be a full-time mom.

A factory worker can go on a mission trip with fellow church members overseas during vacations or holidays.

A retired grandfather can serve God by volunteering with a children’s ministry at a local church. What an opportunity to share a lot of life lessons with the next generation.

How about sharing joy with a friend over coffee? Smiling at the people you meet? They might look at you like you’re a little crazy, but hopefully, that will make them curious.

Here are a few more examples from the learn.ligonier.org website. An author named David Mathis wrote an article about his mom and dad’s time serving a church for more than 30 years without ever being on the staff.

You have what you need to make an impact on others.

“I remember Pop giving all day on Saturdays to referee church basketball and getting up before five am to get things ready for the men’s breakfast. Mom gave her time to the ladies’ group in the church and helped launch the Prayer Room. I even remember dad putting the final touches on his Sunday school lessons, and his driving straight from work to an evening deacon’s meeting or search committee session.”

I read an interesting question and answer section on the Billy Graham website. A young man in high school wrote to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in Canada and asked if he had to become a preacher to serve God, saying, “I like people, but I’m no good at public speaking and hate being in front of a crowd, but if God wants me to preach, I’ll need to get over that.”

The response, as you may imagine, was, “No, you do not have to become a pastor or preacher to serve God. In fact, God uses all kinds of people in all situations who are dedicated to Jesus and seeking to live for Him.”

The respondent went on to say that some of the most effective witnesses for Christ that he or she had ever known weren’t preachers at all. They were everything from stay-at-home moms, factory workers, store clerks, lawyers, and salesmen. In spite of all their differences, they had one thing in common: they loved Jesus and loved others in His name.

Look at it this way: Preachers can’t meet everyone, can they? God needs people just like you and me who don’t have seminary degrees but do have a love for the Lord and want to share His Good News with others.

How is He calling you to serve?

“Remember the Biblical commandment to love the Lord your God, walk in His ways, obey His commands, hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and all your soul.” (Joshua 22:5)

Or how about this one:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-38)

Live these out, and we’ll make an impact for the Kingdom. What better reward is there than to hear the Lord say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Nothing will be better than that!