Small Things Can Make A Big Difference

Eastford Baptist Church
May 18, 2006

“Small Things Can Make a Big Difference”

You may not be familiar with the name Thomas A. Kempis. But even though you may have never heard of him, this man played a major role in changing the whole course of history. Let me tell you his story. Thomas Kempis spent the greater part of his life cloistered behind the remote walls of a monastery in the Netherlands. Cut off from people, he wrote a little book - a collection of meditations - called the Imitation of Christ, which he probably thought would never go beyond the monastery walls. But he was wrong! Some 300 years later, a captain of a slave ship found a copy of this little book aboard his vessel. During a long voyage, this captain - John Newton - read this little book and it had a profound effect upon his life. God spoke to him through the words of Thomas Kempis and something began to stir within his heart. Eventually John Newton gave his life to Jesus Christ and became a minister of the gospel. During his ministry he became a hymn writer. In fact, it was John Newton who wrote the hymn:

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind but now I see.

But he was more than a hymn writer. He was a soul winner and he led many, many men and women to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. One of the men he lead to the Lord was a member of the British Parliament, and after his conversion, he became so aware of God's love for man - every man - that he introduced a bill in parliament, which passed, outlawing slave traffic in the entire British Empire. Think of that! One little man in a secluded monastery in the Netherlands! And, yet, his work - The Imitation of Christ - was the catalyst which literally changed the entire world. Who would have dreamed it? Just a humble monk quietly writing down his thoughts...but God used it to change the world.

1 Corinthians 1: 28-29 says, “He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him.” One of God's greatest miracles is to enable ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Look at what Paul writes in the previous two verses: “Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.”
Not only do small things often have a big potential, but it seems the Lord plans to use small things to bring glory to Himself. Nothing is too small or insignificant for God to use. Do you understand that? Jesus took a little boy's lunch that was given to Him - it wasn't much, just five little loaves of bread and two fish - but He used it to feed a whole multitude of hungry people. He took a monk's little collection of words and thoughts and used it to drive slavery out of the British Empire. He took a simple boy from the household of Jesse - a shepherd boy, the least impressive of all of his brothers - and made him into one of the greatest and strongest kings who ever lived. It’s the small, seemingly insignificant that God chooses to use to impact this world.
What’s the point? Don’t’ underestimate how God might be using you right now. The little things you do, the small acts of kindness, the modest contributions can make a big difference which only God understands and knows about. The gospel track you give to the checkout girl, the conversation you have over a cup of coffee with a discouraged friend, the time you spend with a child – all might be part of God’s great redemptive plan. Don’t let the devil tell you that your small contribution doesn’t make a difference. Small things make a big difference in God’s economy.

“If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there.’
And it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Matthew 17:20

Hoping this small piece is helpful to you,

Pastor Tim