There is a story about a man that was walking on the beach when he observed a boy tossing something into the ocean. He approached the boy and asked him what he was doing. He told the man that he was throwing starfish back into the ocean. He said that the tide was going out and if he didn’t throw them in the ocean they’d die. The man then tried to reason with the boy, saying that there were thousands of starfish. He told him what he was doing didn’t matter because he wasn’t going to make a difference. The boy replied as he tossed another starfish into the ocean, it mattered to that one.
We often feel like we aren’t making a difference. We feel like what we are doing doesn’t matter. This is largely because we may not see the results that we’d like to see. We would like to see large numbers of people come to Jesus. Because we aren’t seeing these large numbers we feel like the work we are doing is insignificant. What about the one though? Remember that you and I both were once that one. Remember the difference that it made in your life. It was significant to you and I.
The Apostle Paul was once the one. We do not know how many Ananias may have reached, but we know that he reached one. Remember what it says in Luke 15:7 (KJV) joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth. Heaven rejoices over the one then we should too. Paul wrote that I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some (1 Corinthians 9:22 KJV). Some, did you get that? He is trying to save some, somebody that will hear the Gospel, somebody that will follow Jesus.
You know just as important as the one that we bring to Jesus for the first time is the one that we keep with Jesus. Don’t forget that encouraging your brothers and sisters in Christ matters too. You may not know how important encouraging your brethren is, but it is very important. Who knows if you might say or do something that causes them to hold on to Jesus and not go back to what they came from.
Yes we still want to reach as many as we can. We must remember though that the one matters. If we make a difference in one person’s life then it matters to them and it matters to Jesus.
Jude 1:21-23 KJV 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
James 5:19-20 KJV 19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.