If there's one thing you've learned as a Christian, it's that you and I were put on earth to make a contribution.  We weren't created just to consume resources -- to eat, breathe and take up space.  God designed us to make a difference with our lives.  Books and seminars may offer us advice on how to get the most out of life, but God wants us to make a difference in life.  We're created to add to life, to give something back.  Somehow, in some way, we must make a difference.  And sometimes we just have to take a chance, even if we've never done it that way before.

          In the early 1940's a man named George came to the office of Dr. Smith, one of the rare physicians who treated cancer in those days.  George was a dying man, emaciated, barely able to walk, and told by other physicians he was without hope of cure.  Dr. Smith told him of a new medicine he'd uncovered that had some success in the laboratory, but had never been tried on humans.  George pleaded to try the new medicine.  Dr. Smith's colleagues were dismayed he would even consider giving George an untried medicine, but Dr. Smith agreed.  George was a dead man anyway, so why not give him a chance at recovery?  But his colleagues were incensed and refused to cooperate.  There were right and wrong ways to do things, they insisted.

          Dr. Smith administered the medicine to George and the results were amazing.  He regained his appetite, gained back nearly 60 pounds and became cheerful.  By all accounts, the cancer had gone into remission.  Dr. Smith, being a very busy man, then turned George's care over to his staff, who, without his knowledge, refused to treat George with the untested medicine.  And within a year George lost all his weight and died.  The medicine would have worked, but because it was not in their list of accepted medical treatments, they did not give it to him and George died.  George Herman Ruth died.  Babe Ruth, the great American baseball player, died at only 53 years old.  Who knows how long he might have lived if only a few doctors could have looked past their prejudices to accept something new, something already tried and proven by others, but something they themselves had not yet tried.

          You and I were created to make a difference.  It's a purpose every one of us has.  The Bible says, "We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."  Those good works are our service to God and to others.  God says in Jeremiah 1:5, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;  I appointed you as a servant to the nations."  You and I have been placed on this planet for a special assignment to be God's servant.

          And as His servant, we're to make a difference in the lives of people around us.  Some years back I was working out my "Personal Mission Statement."  Mission statements were all the rage, but I wanted to keep mine as simple as possible.  I still like things simple, not so wordy.  That's why Epiphany's Mission statement is only 10 words:  "Joyful Worship - Faithful Service - Positive Outreach - Loving Fellowship - Biblical Nurture."  I told Carol my Personal Mission Statement was "To Make a Difference."  She laughed and said it sounded like something a girl would say at a Miss America Pageant.  She was right, so I changed it:  "To Give People Hope in Jesus."  Still short, still to make a difference, but more specific.

          How can you and I make a difference?  How can you and I serve God and His people?  It's something we should be thinking about all the time, because it's a major purpose God has given us in life.  You and I were saved to serve.

          I had a little plastic cross given to me in Vacation Bible School when I was a boy and on it were the words, "Saved to Serve."  I don't know who gave it to me, but I never forgot what it said.  I think back on all the little things my Sunday School and VBS teachers gave me, and I've never forgotten those little messages from God.

          Parents, I have a question for you.  Will your children have little messages from God to remember?  You and I are put here on earth to make a difference in your children's lives.  What could possibly be more important than bringing your son or daughter to hear about Jesus?  Some of you might be saying, "Nothing is more important."  Then why don't you have your children in Sunday School every Sunday?  Our Sunday School may be small, but it wouldn't be if we all brought our children.  Think of the difference it would make in their lives if every week we gave them one hour of Sunday School.  Think of what's lasting for them in life!

          Parents, I want you to think of something - will your children remember those ball games or tournaments they go to?  And years from now, will they be able to remember what their Sunday School teachers told them?  Or their Vacation Bible School teachers?  Let's not short-change our kids from what's eternal.  They need Sunday School.  They need to learn of the Lord.  The Bible says, "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." (Prov. 22:6)   Our children need God training a lot more than they need sports training.  Think of it!

          We're saved to serve and we begin by serving our children.  One of my goals this year is our church's fifth purpose - Biblical Nurture.  That means I want to increase attendance in Sunday School - for all ages!  To do this, I plan to confront every parent every month about Sunday School.  So parents, get ready, because I'm coming for you.  I'm going to hound you and probably irritate you about this.  If you and your children aren't in Sunday School on a somewhat regular basis, you'd better have an answer why.  This year think of me as Pastor Elwood Blues, man on a mission!  I hope you have a sense of humor, but I also I hope you see how very serious and important this is.  The spiritual future of our children is more important than anything else!

          Some will think a pastor shouldn't hound his people like this.  But what should I do, if not urge, urge and urge you some more to bring your little ones to the Lord?  It will take some change of routine and schedule.  Remember those doctors who didn't help Babe Ruth because it wasn't in their routine.  If anyone wants to help me, I'll be glad to delegate some of this.  Here's your chance to make a difference.

          That's what we're called to do, to make a difference!  Will that difference help us just for today, or will it help us eternally?  "We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

          Another way to serve God and His people is through being a good and faithful leader, whether elected or appointed.  Today we've installed our Council, Elders, Directors and Women's Guild officers.  Folks, this is the year for you to get creative.  So far in the life of Epiphany, it's mostly been me suggesting things for you to do.  I've given you my ideas and you've done them well.  But now it's your turn to be creative.  You call me with your ideas, your improvements, fresh approaches to fulfilling Epiphany's purposes.  I will help you with what your task is, but you work it out.  You get creative.  You make it work.  Here's a chance to make a difference!

          My only request is that your ideas fulfill one of our five purposes:  Joyful Worship - Faithful Service - Positive Outreach - Loving Fellowship - Biblical Nurture.  If your idea doesn't fit one of those purposes, you'd better ask why you're doing it.  Whether it's Fellowship or Outreach or Stewardship or facilities improvement, ask how your idea will fulfill our church's purposes.

          St. Paul tells us, "You are the Body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." (1 Corinthians 12:27)   We were placed on this planet for a special assignment, to serve God and give Him glory.  Now it's up to us to fulfill that purpose -- or not!

          It's our human nature to find excuses.  Adam blamed Eve for eating the apple.  Eve blamed the serpent.  And ever since Eden, you and I have been finding excuses not to do God's will.  Praise God Jesus Christ took all our excuses to the cross.  Praise God Jesus loves us in spite of our silly excuses for not bringing our kids to learn of Jesus.  And praise God for those of you who bring yourselves to learn of Jesus.

          God so loved the world that He gave us His only Son.  What great news!  What can we give Him in return?  Actually nothing.  There's nothing we can do to repay God for forgiving us.  Yet our purpose is not to repay God, but to give Him glory.  Our purpose is to respond joyfully and gratefully for what He's already done for us.

          As we begin another fiscal year, may we all rededicate ourselves to serving the Father who has given us life, the Son who gave His life for us, and the Spirit who gives us new life through faith in Jesus.  Praise the Lord!  And all God's people said, "Amen!"

Copyright © 2003 by Pastor Bob Tasler.  All rights reserved.