Impact Your World...

Each of us must decide what we stand for. What we say and do in life reflects who we are deep inside, and maybe more importantly whose we are. If God's fruit and God's nature dwells deep, that's what is going to come forth in our actions and in our speech.

Mother Teresa had a platform of love. She spent her life caring for those who were lost and lonely. Her book, In the Heart of the World (MJF Books, 1997), includes a prayer that reflects the spirit of her work: "Shine through me, and be in me, so that every soul I come in contact with may feel your presence in my soul. Let them look up and see no longer me, but only you, O Lord!"

Rahab had a platform of faith. In the book of Joshua, we learn that Rahab had been living a life of sin as a prostitute. But she realized her need for redemption and hid Israelite spies who were being pursued by the King of Jericho (Joshua 2:1-21). She did not let her past or her pride get in the way of her belief in God.

Learning was central to the platform of Jesus' friend Mary. When Jesus visited the house of sisters Mary and Martha, Mary sat at Jesus' feet, setting her heart on every word that came from his mouth (Luke 10:38-42). Her sister, Martha, scurried around the house cleaning up, jealous that Mary was getting to spend time with Jesus and angry that she wasn't helping out. Mary's platform was to be a learner; Martha's was to be a pleaser. Each of them chose what she would be about that day when Jesus came to their home.

Bethany Hamilton's platform is focused on God's saving love. In 2003, at the age of 13, Bethany was attacked by a 14-foot tiger shark while surfing in Hawaii. Bethany lost her arm in the attack but chose to resume her professional surfing career and use this tragic experience as a platform to share what God had done in her life. Her deep and abiding faith became a catalyst for sharing the good news of Christ and the hope that is available even in the worst circumstances. Bethany's life is a speech testifying to the power of God's love.

We could list many other examples, the greatest of these being Christ, who never gave up his platform of love and forgiveness. His dream comes true every time one of his children turns to him for forgiveness and decides to live out the calling given to each of them.

Even if you never give a speech in a microphone, your life speaks to the world each day. What does your life say about what is most important to you? What message do people hear when they listen to the platform of your life?


*Have you felt afraid to share with a friend about something you believed strongly?

*What is unique about you? Could this uniqueness lead to a platform that could be used by God?

*Would your friends say you have a platform? If other were to look at the things you value in your life, how might they describe your platform? Try to be as honest as possible.

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