I am only one, but still I am one.
I cannot do everything; but still I can do something;
and because I cannot do everything
I will not refuse to do the something that I can do. – Edward Everett Hale

In an overpopulated world, it’s easy to underestimate the significance of just one person. There are so many who have so many gifts and skills who are already doing so many things that are so important, who needs me? What can I as one individual contribute to the overwhelming needs of our world, our church, etc.? But the truth is, you are you—the only you in all the world. Nobody can do the things God has called and gifted you to do. 

A couple of church members were distributing loaves of bread in a low-income housing complex. They came to an apartment where they heard arguing through the door, but they decided to knock anyway. A man opened the door and asked what they wanted. One of the visitors said, “We don’t want anything. We just wondered if you know anyone who could use some loaves of bread?” “Why are you doing that?” the man asked. “Just to let people know that God loves them.” “What did you just say?” the man asked, rather anxiously. “We’re just handing out loaves of bread to let people know God loves them.” 

The man stared and said, “I can’t believe this. We just buried our three-week-old son yesterday, and now here you are at our door.” The visitors offered to pray with them, and the couple accepted their offer. As they were leaving, and the door was being closed, they heard the husband say to his wife, “See, honey? I told you God cares. We thought He wasn’t paying attention to us, but He sent those people here to make sure we knew.”

Just a couple of loaves of bread. A random act of kindness. That’s all God needs to touch someone’s life, to let them know that Jesus is there and He cares. It’s why Jesus blessed people. It’s why He asks us to do the same.

Think of what our world would be like without the one person of an Abraham Lincoln, Mother Theresa or Martin Luther King, Jr. One person, one commitment and one voice that changed the world. 

It’s the story we find in the Bible over and over again. Joseph saved the nation from starvation so that Israel became a great nation. Esther, one individual, probably in her twenties, saved an entire nation by risking her life approaching the king. Noah: One righteous man who obeyed God and preserved humanity during widespread corruption. David: One teen who defeated Goliath by trusting God’s power against the odds. 

It’s a theme of the book of Nehemiah. If he hadn’t been burdened about the broken-down walls of Jerusalem, if he hadn’t challenged the Jews to take on the project, if he hadn’t persevered against enemies on the outside and discouraged Jews on the inside, the walls wouldn’t have been built.  Never underestimate the difference one person can make! Never underestimate the difference YOU can make!

One person can make a big difference in a church. One person can positively affect the direction and atmosphere of a church and lead others to faithfulness by their example of following Jesus. As a pastor, I know that I can feel the difference when these people are present in our church.

Many of us think our influence is negligible. Never underestimate the power of living as a faithful follower of Jesus in a local church. Just do ordinary things like showing up every Sunday. Look for someone to encourage. Pray. Serve. Sing. Lean in during the sermon. Not only will you benefit, but others will see you and begin to take these steps too. Given enough time, as others join you, God might shape the entire direction of the church through your example.

Sometimes low-maintenance believers don’t get much attention in a church. They just faithfully show up, serve, and encourage. Please don’t overlook the power of what a few godly people can do. Pray for them. Encourage them. Thank God for them. They may be easy to overlook, but they’re one of God’s gracious gifts to a local church family.

There’s only one you. You’re the only person with your background, your life events in the pilgrimage and sufferings that have brought you to this time. You’re the only one with your convictions, your makeup, your skills, your appearance, your voice, your style, your surroundings, your sphere of influence—you’re the only one.

What does it matter if I get involved or not? It matters greatly—it matters to your spiritual growth! Yes, it’s true that God has other ways to accomplish His objectives. He isn’t restrained because you’re indifferent. But when that happens, we’re the losers. We’ve been called “for such a time as this,” how tragic if we are not there to stand in that hour.

Numerous needs surround us. They challenge us to stand up and be counted. Numerous jobs around us need to be done. Numerous ministries need staffing or even to be launched. While we can’t respond to all of them, the solution is not to respond to any of them! 

So, let me ask you: What are you doing to stand up, to stand alone, to answer the call of God in this hour? Consider the following…

1. Not until we believe one person can make a difference will we be willing to take a risk.

Please stop being so careful about protecting yourself or worrying what others think. You don’t answer to them. You answer to Him. He will help. He will give you the wisdom and courage you need. You may be only one, but you are still one. So, take a risk for Jesus!

2. It’s only when we move from the safety of theory to the risky world of reality that we make a difference.

We’re great at talking. We have a theory on how the church can grow, how we can have a better youth ministry, how we can see more souls saved etc. But we’re not rewarded for theories. It’s action. We’re rewarded for deeds.

So, can one person make a difference? 

Did Jesus? God came to our rescue. He didn’t simply grieve over our sin, He did something! The Son of God said to God the Father, “I will go” and did something about it.

The question isn’t, what do you think of Jesus? The question is, what have you done about what you think? It’s not how do you feel about the message of the gospel? The question is: what have you done about the gospel? The question isn’t, what needs to be done? The issue is, what am I doing? Am I willing to step out in faith and make a difference for Jesus?