Being A Difference Maker

Soon the house where He was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While He was preaching God’s word to them, four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above His head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus . . . [Jesus said] “So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming,”We’ve never seen anything like this before!”
Mark‬ ‭2‬:‭2-4, 10-12‬ NLTI love difference makers.

 

These are people who, in the face of difficulty or disaster, decide with divine determination to make a difference. In modern times we’ve seen Mother Teresa, William Booth (founder of The Salvation Army), Blake Mycoskie of Toms . . . and countless others who see with eyes of faith what others can’t see.

Not every difference maker is known. But each one knows how to make a difference.

I think of Sarge and Linda who live in a home for battered women . . . David who plants churches in remote places of the world . . . and John who provides hungry children with backpacks full of meals. These are life changers who make a difference.

In The Gospel of Mark, the writer mentions four difference makers. These four knew that their paralyzed friend’s life could be changed by Jesus. They placed their friend on a make-shift bed and decided to make a difference. Because of Jesus’ popularity, they couldn’t get into the place where Jesus was ministering. Their decisive faith gave them determination. The “blew the roof off” and lowered their friend to the feet of Jesus. Seeing the faith of the four, Jesus made a difference in their friend’s life. Mark tells us, “He said to the paralytic, ‘I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home.’ And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone.” (Mark 2:10-11 NASB)

The faith of four friends initiated a response of awe and amazement. People had never seen anything like it. These four remind us what it takes to make a difference.

 

Make a Difference With Passion. We love because He first loved us. John writes, “Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.” (‭1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭11‬ NLT) Love accepted is love applied. James reminds us ,“If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?” (Jam 2:15-16 ESV).
Living a life of compassion will change lives.

Make a Difference With Purpose. Busting open a roof was not a “guess”, it was a “go”! Wanting to make a difference and making a difference are two different decisions. Dreaming is not the same as doing . . . one is the sizzle, the other the steak. Jesus reminds us that if we put our hand to the plow, we don’t look back. (Luke 9:62). Paul’s commitment was to move ahead and not stay behind. He writes, ” . . . But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 3:13 ESV)
Living a life of commitment will change lives.

 

Make a Difference With Partnership. Solomon’s wisdom reminds us that two are better than one. (Ecc 4:9-12). Where two or three gather, He is present and participating. Jesus said, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (‭Matt18‬:‭20‬ ESV) Just one of these four friends could not have accomplish this task by themselves . . . it took all of them. It was their faith (plural) that made a difference.
Living a life of cooperation will change lives.Make a Difference With Prayer. The passage doesn’t tell if these four prayed before they began, but it does tell us their faith made a difference. The power of prayer impacts friend and foe, alike. We are to pray for those who cause us hurt. Jesus taught, “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (‭Matt 5‬:‭44‬ ESV) James tells us the importance of praying for each other, “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.” (James 5:14 ESV). And, “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:16 ESV).
Living a life of conviction will change lives.Today, live a life that outlives your own. Invest eternally in someone or something.Compassion. Commitment. Cooperation. Conviction.

Make a defining difference.