Impact

In this final installment of the Experiencing God Devotional, it must first be mentioned that these ideas do not explicitly require one another in a specific way, but they are very much connected.

Impact without intimacy is the blind leading the blind.

We must know what it means to encounter the Lord through His Word.
We must develop a lifestyle of prayer and fasting.
We must learn to live by faith.
We must make ourselves available for His interruption.
Or our desire to impact becomes a distraction.

I've heard it said before that,

Jesus is perfect theology.

Can someone let me know when they have Jesus figured out so I can take their class on theology?

Okay, so maybe we don't try to figure Jesus out as much as we take a few pages out of His book. How did Jesus impact those around Him?

To the women at the well, he had insight into her situation and called her to become more than she had settled for.

To oppressive religious leaders, he had the courage to stand against the weight of their oppression.

To sinners, he had the compassion to call them to grace and empower their transformation.

To the sick, he prayed for healing.
To the broken, he proclaimed wholeness.
To those in bondage, he set free.

Unrolling [the scroll], he found the place where it is written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
   because he has anointed me
   to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
   and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
   to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Remember

When has God invited you to make an impact?
When has God used someone else to impact you?

This Week

Spend some time with the Lord and make yourself available to impact someone else. If you know you are going somewhere, or meeting with someone, take a couple minutes and ask, "Holy Spirit, is there someone you want me to talk to, pray for, or encourage?"