Matthew 25:21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave; You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
Have you heard of “the butterfly effect”? The Butterfly Effect is a book by Alabama native and international best-selling author, Andy Andrews. The book’s name is based on the theory, developed by American mathematician and meteorologist Edward Lorenz, that a butterfly can flap its wings and set molecules of air in motion, which would move other molecules of air that in turn would move other molecules of air. This movement of air molecules would become so great that they would eventually be capable of starting a hurricane on the other side of the planet. Mr. Andrews concludes that, “every single thing you do matters.”
I can’t think of anything that is more encouraging or more sobering than every single thing we do matters. God can use even the smallest acts, even a cup of water in His name, to accomplish His great purposes. Can you imagine the boy who brought the five loaves and two fishes to Jesus. What was the conversation like when he went back to his parents and friends? I bet he began his story … “You are not going to believe …”
There are a multitude of people in Birmingham that have come to Christ or have been influenced by a small act. There is a man who was ordained into the priesthood from business, went into ministry and now is actually back in business. Forrest can’t even remember who brought him to our YBL banquet, but that person got him on the right path. There is a man who went through our Concentrating on the Major’s Study that an architect brought to our banquet. He was later invited to the study by myself and a man in commercial real estate. He decided that study was important.
In one of our studies a man had dropped out for over ten years and has returned because of a simple invitation to come back. He realized someone cared. This is what we do: Expose a man to the gospel, get many touches on his life through other people and watch God work.
What a blessing it is to know that God can use any little thing for His Glory. He can multiply our butterfly wing efforts to accomplish a hurricane worth of results for His Kingdom. Mother Teresa was asked the question, “With so much need how do you do what you do each day?” She answered, “I try to be God’s messenger, one person at a time.”
I know of so many people, including myself, that are praying for a spiritual awakening in our country. We are trusting God to use our city to be a catalyst for a movement of God. We must come together, repent of our sins, cry out to God, and ask His Holy Spirit to come in a powerful way. We may think that we are small in number or insignificant, but God can meet us where we are. He is the awesome, almighty, sovereign God!
Who are the people you can affect? What are the prayers you are praying? What territory do you want to claim for God? Are you preparing for battle? Do you long for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven? God can use the tiniest effort to have an enormous effect for His Kingdom.
God is already moving behind the scenes in the spiritual realm. He longs to deploy us as a part of His plan. The angels are watching. A great crowd of witnesses is watching. God is watching. And there is always someone on earth that is watching us. Let’s advance. Let’s flap our wings. Remember, Everything we do matters!