It can show others the character of the God I serve. As a believer, my kindness goes a long way. This is what Acuff’s post reminded me of. The followers of God were to be attractive to other nations, a sentiment that is repeated in Titus. Deuteronomy 4 points this out: If Israel obeyed the Lord, other nations would hear about it and be drawn to the wisdom of God who was so close to His people. The whole world belonged to God, and it was Israel’s call to draw people to Him through their obedience and worship. Israel was to follow the Law, and by doing that, they would be representing God’s character. But in the Old Testament, God’s command was different. After Jesus, Paul and the disciples go out, based on Jesus’ command to spread the Gospel to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). In the Old Testament, there is not a huge emphasis on evangelism like we think of it in the New Testament. But for someone who has just been ignored by the last 20 people whose groceries they scanned, it could be life-changing. It is not difficult or grand or complicated. He notices their name and asks a question or starts a conversation.

This is a skill I noticed in my boyfriend - whether at Target or at a drive-thru, he always talks to the employee who is helping him. It is easy to get so caught up in the “important” work I have to do that I fail to even smile at the person behind the counter at the grocery store on a busy day. This is why I so appreciated Acuff’s reminder to simply be kind to others. I believe strongly in the things that I do, but sometimes the scope of the task to “change the world” feels a bit overwhelming. I am a writer, and I have spent a lot of time crafting articles to motivate college students toward a Christian worldview or writing Sunday school lessons for impoverished children in India. Mission statements for these companies are usually about changing the culture or bringing the Gospel to the world. Ever since I graduated college, I have worked in the nonprofit world. When people are changed, the world changes, he said. Acuff’s point was that we all have the opportunity to do this each and every day with small gestures. That sort of gesture was not necessary or expected, but he made it anyway.Īcuff then went on to point out the sheer joy on the face of the lane official.īolt made that guy’s day, just by acknowledging him. No one would have criticized him for ignoring the race official. Usain turned and did something unnecessary and unexpected. A guy that is so far into the background of the moment that he’s not even an “extra” in the scene. A guy most television cameras completely skipped over.

He turned around and fist bumped the lane official. In a matter of seconds, a gun would sound that launched him and every one of his competitors around the track in a mad dash toward gold. He was on the verge of something he’d been preparing for his entire life. The summer when he was getting ready to run a race at the Olympics, Bolt did something unexpected:īefore one of his races, he walked to the start line. I love the post on Stuff Christian’s Like blog, “ Want to change the world in 3.2 seconds?” Jon Acuff pointed out Usain Bolt, the Jamaican sprinter who is basically faster than a speeding bullet.

Mad dash racing snyder