To Leave Our Mark




Ever think to leave a ‘mark’ on society we’d have to become a doctor, professor, statesman, an Olympian, or a CEO? Then found life, other people, or circumstances had distracted us from our goal? We resigned ourselves into believing our chance of making a difference had slipped us by. But God sees our worthiness differently. He uses the simple things in life, like the glorious Day Lily, to teach us a larger lesson.

For one day these magnificent lilies pierce the sky from sun rise to sun set to reveal vibrant, elongated flowers: leaving their ‘mark’ before they start to fade. That’s it! God says in Matthew 6:29, “Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.” [Lilies] (NIV)

Does this mean once our time has come and gone our life is over? By no means. The greenery of the lily continues, the plant will bloom again next year and we are continually useful. We may never know how a word timely spoken, or a thoughtful action changes someone’s life.

Scripture is full of those who made a difference at a specific time: Simon, a Cyrene, who carried the cross of Jesus (Matthew 27:32): the boy with five loaves and two fish that Jesus blessed and fed five thousand (Matthew 14:17): and the un-named man who willingly gave up his donkey and its colt for Jesus to ride on when He entered Jerusalem. (Matthew 21: 1-7)

And the greatest example of all is Jesus. He owned no wheat fields or fisheries, and walked on dusty roads instead of beautiful carpets. He wrote no books, or founded schools. His mother, Mary, and His earthly father, Joseph, were not famous. Yet, His ‘mark’ to make a difference not only pierced the garden, but our lives forever.

These individuals were not required to have the right job, or credentials to be used by God. Prior to verse 29, Matthew states in 6:28: “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow? They do not labor or spin.” These beauties do what God intended them to do: bloom to shout His praises! In these two verses, Matthew 6: 28-29, our Lord isn’t discussing the merits of gardening with the ladies. He’s challenging all of us, men and women, to have the faith to courageously step out and trust His plan for our life. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

God never asked us to understand the circumstances we find ourselves in. The mysterious plan, that even King Solomon’s riches couldn’t equal, reminds us to stop worrying, and lamenting on what could have been. And accept by faith that we can, in any place, in any situation make a difference. And nothing will erase our ‘mark’ we leave, that brings God glory. To Leave Our

‘Mark’

Takes Courage

by Sharon Reidenbach