The Ripple Effect
You were born to create a ripple effect in the world. When you drop a rock in the water, it initially causes a splash and then leaves a wake of ripples that expand. It doesn't matter the size, shape or density of the rock, because every rock makes an impact.
Think about this, what if right now you are the rock that God wants to release to make a splash in the water?
"but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth"
- Acts 1:8 (NASB)
Here, Jesus gives the disciples a charge that when they receive the power of the Holy Spirit, they will impact their cities, regions, countries, and the rest of the world. Although Jesus gives us the same charge, the magnitude of the call can be intimidating. If you're struggling to get momentum to impact your world,
Why not start with your family and move your way out?
"You shall be My witnesses ... in Jerusalem"
Your Jerusalem is your family; it's the people who are closest to you. For Angelo, Jerusalem was his mom, dad, and sister. When he was born again, they were the first ones to experience the wake of his salvation.
So ask yourself today who is your Jerusalem?
“..and in all Judea.."
Your Judea is the next wave of the ripple. It is the friends and acquaintances you see often, like your coworkers, classmates, or teammates. For Angelo, Judea was his college basketball team.
Figure out who is your Judea?
...and Samaria..."
Just as Samaria was the neighboring territory to Judea in the New Testament. Your Samaria would be your neighbors, or the people who live in proximity to you. Angelo’s Samaria was his neighbor Eric.
Who is your Samaria?
"..and even to the remotest part of the earth."
Although we are called to impact nations, remember that you don't need to travel the globe to impact the world around you. More now than ever, there are unreached people who have never heard the Gospel in our cities-the unexpected individuals God places in our paths like our baristas, our barbers, and our servers.
For Angelo "the ends of the earth" was a woman with a velcro brace at Walmart.