“Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
- Matthew 5:16 ESV
My human was sitting on the porch again this morning with his Bible in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other.
I was sitting beside him, doing what I do best—keeping an eye on the yard and pretending not to listen.
But I was listening.
He was reading about Jesus telling His followers to let their light shine.
That got me thinking.
I’ve never preached a sermon.
I’ve never taught a Bible study.
I’ve never served on a church committee.
I’m a dog.
But I’ve learned something about impact.
You don’t have to be famous to make a difference.
Us dogs have a way of leaving an impact wherever we go.
We wag our tails.
We greet people like they’re the most important person we’ve ever seen.
We protect our people.
We stay close when they’re hurting.
But people leave an impact, too.
The question is: What kind of impact are you leaving?
If you follow Jesus, your faith isn’t supposed to stay inside the church building on Sunday morning.
It ought to show up Monday morning at work.
It ought to be seen in how you treat your employees and coworkers—especially the ones who can’t do anything for you.
It ought to be evident in your community, in your neighborhood, and in the way you treat people who see the world differently than you do.
It ought to be felt in your family and friendships—in the way you speak, forgive, serve, encourage and love.
And it ought to be visible in your church—not just by sitting in a pew, but by being willing to serve.
My human closed his Bible and took another drink of coffee.
He said, “You know, buddy, we may never know how much our lives affect somebody else.”
I’m thinking he’s right.
A smile may encourage somebody.
A kind word may keep somebody from giving up.
An act of forgiveness may show somebody what grace looks like.
And a life surrendered to Jesus may point somebody toward the One who can save them.
Jesus didn’t save us because we were good enough to make a difference.
He saved us because we weren’t.
He lived the perfect life we couldn’t live, died the death our sin deserved, and rose again so that those who trust in Him can have new life.
And when Jesus changes you from the inside out, that change doesn’t stay hidden.
Grace received becomes grace lived.
So today, wherever you go, remember that somebody is watching.
Your family.
Your coworkers.
Your employees.
Your neighbors.
Your church family.
Maybe even a dog.
Maybe we should all ask ourselves:
“Who will be impacted because I followed Jesus today?”
Don’t worry about making a name for yourself.
Just live in such a way that your life points to the name above every name.
Jesus.
You may never know the impact you’re making.
But if your life helps somebody see a little more of Jesus, that’s an impact worth making.
Keep the Faith… Carpe Diem
