Leaving a Lasting Impression

Scripture verses that caught my attention today: Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Observation: The power at work within us is great.

Application: I’ve reflected and written often that two of the great temptations in life are the following opposite extremes—to think to highly of oneself or to think too lowly of oneself. Somewhere in the middle is the sweet spot.

A striking aspect of verse 20 above is that even our highest thinking is unable to comprehend what God can do through us. And yet what God does can do through us and how God works through us is often a complete surprise, sometimes without us even knowing it.

I was reminded of this fact the other day when listening to a speaker on a CD. He mentioned that sometimes it is a 10-minute conversation or even a single phrase scribbled on a napkin that can bring about a change in a person’s life. Something as simple as that can be the turning point, often before we even realize it. Such is the ways of the power of God.

For me one of those simple conversations was between my high school vo-ag teacher and my parents in my presence around our messy kitchen table in an even messier farm house. I doubt that the conversation lasted more than 15 minutes and one key sentence from him to them in my hearing has stood out over time; “I think Kent should go to college.”

That was it. That one sentence, and my parent’s affirmation of it, forever changed the course of my life and has led to “abundantly far more than all [I could] ask or imagine.”

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not for one minute praising the relatively elite experience of college as the only (or even always preferred) way to a life of accomplishment. But I am saying that, in my particular case, that particular move was extremely foundational for almost everything opportunity that has followed.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the people of influence in my life and in the lives of others. Allow all of us to in one way or another leave such lasting positive impressions…in Jesus’ name. Amen.

(Readings today included: Ecclesiastes 4-6, Psalm 18, and Ephesians 3)