Our relationship with God is personal, and yet, it is not meant to be private. Our life with God is a life that is designed to touch others in practical ways.

Jesus challenged his disciples and He challenges us to do the small thing to show the big thing of God´s love at work. In Matthew 10: 35, it is giving a cup of cold water. In John 13, the night before He dies, He washes his disciple´s feet and then challenges them to love others. He then makes this statement in John 13:35 "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

You never fully know how a life will be touched by a small act of kindness, but God does. Jesus gives us a hint of the impact that doing the small things to show the big thing of God´s love at work can have in Matthew 25:34-40. Stop here and pick up your Bible and read this lesson for today. It is powerful and makes the point of how this all comes together.

Simple acts done with great love will change the world. Jesus puts it this way in Matthew 10:42, "I can guarantee this truth: Whoever gives any of my humble followers a cup of cold water because that person is my disciple will certainly never lose his reward".

Just think how God came into this world. How did he come? Not with bells and whistles, not riding a white horse with trumpets blaring, He came as a baby. He touched people at their point of need, not just to heal them physically or to lift their spirits, but to change their lives. He came and gave His life on a cross, on an instrument of death, to pay for our sins and to change the world with His love. God was aware we would never get this on our own, so He sent His Son to die for us, His Holy Spirit to lead us to faith and to change our hearts, and people, people who touched our hearts with His love.

Realize that our power to serve is not based on who we are, but who JESUS is THROUGH us. At this point we can get caught up in the guilt of not doing enough to show that love, or feeling horrible how inadequate our love might seem. The challenge is often we try to love under our own power, and the power to share Jesus in practical ways comes from Christ. Paul knew this, even when imprisoned, he knew and experienced the power of Christ at work, that’s why he tells the Philippians and us in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

We get into heaven not by what we do, but by what Christ has done for us. The power of the life we live in love toward God and others flows out of God working in our hearts. Jesus the night before he dies prays for this to happen in our lives when he prays in John 17:21, "The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind—Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, So they might be one heart and mind with us. Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me." —(The Message)

Sharing Jesus in practical ways can be that cup of cold water, a meal delivered, a prayer shawl made and presented to a person in pain, words of prayer, a listening ear, a ride to the doctor and so many other ways. These ways, are for many, the only Jesus people will see, the only words of the Bible seen and heard.

Our actions flow out of the realization that Jesus did it. He died for us. He gives us life eternal. He empowers us with His presence. He challenges us to live out our purpose not in only a big moment of life, but in all of its little ones as well.

We understand simple acts done with great love will change the world. We realize our power to serve is not based on who we are, but who Jesus is through us.

Folks, those simple acts done in love seem so small, yet when you realize God is at work through them. you discover the great life of sharing Jesus in practical ways.