Have You Ever Felt Like Your Story Wasn’t "Big" Enough?

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     Have you ever wondered if your life actually makes a dent in the spiritual landscape of your community? We often look at global ministries or famous preachers and think, “That is how the world changes,” while viewing our own small conversations as insignificant. We look at the big tent revivals of Billy Graham and think man God used him to do a great work. Yet we look at what we do for the lord as not as important of valuable. We tend to maximize the spiritual impact of others, while minimizing the spiritual impact that we have and how God is using us. 

    Anyone who has ever shared the gospel knows that sharing our faith is intimidating. We worry we don't know enough of the Bible, or we fear that our "small" efforts won't yield big results. We think to ourselves "If another person would share the gospel with that person instead of me that person would have a better shot at getting saved." 

    However, the spread of the Gospel has never been reserved for the "experts." It is a mission fueled by everyday people who simply refuse to keep the Good News to themselves. We need to understand that we are part of a global, historic movement that has a major impact on both our world and the Kingdom of God. Understanding that truth can change how we view our daily interactions at the grocery store, the office, or the school gates.

"which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth; as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, who also declared to us your love in the Spirit."- 

 Colossians 1:6-8 (NKJV)

A Tale of Two Servants

    In the early church, the Gospel didn't just spread through the famous Apostle Paul. While Paul was preaching in the major hub of Ephesus, a man named Epaphras heard the gospel message and was transformed by it. He didn't wait for a formal invitation to become a missionary. He did not pack his bags and go to Jerusalem and study scripture to become a preacher. Instead he simply went back to his hometown of Colossae and started telling people what he had learned about Jesus.

    Eventually, the church of Colossae was born from his efforts. That's right a normal ordinary guy, no seminary training or some big name preacher. Just an ordinary man who knew Jesus took it upon himself to preach the gospel and build a church. 

    Now as time passed, the Colossians began to doubt. They wondered if they were missing out on "deeper" secrets or more "blessed" teachings from other "experts." They wanted to know that what Epaphras was preaching was what preachers like the apostle Paul was preaching as well. 

    So Paul wrote this letter to reassure them and answer their questions. He told them that the Gospel they heard from Epaphras was the exact same Gospel being preached across the entire world. They are not missing out on anything! Epaphras was a "faithful minister," and his simple, local work was just as vital as Paul’s global travels. 

    These two servants of God are very different. One you probably have heard of and the other you probably have not. One wrote large sections of the New Testament, the other has not written a single book of the bible. Though these two servants are very different and we might view there ministries differently. Both of these servants made a big diffrence for the Kingdom of God and for their communities. The power of a single person's testimony is historically staggering. 

    There was a elderly woman who was blind and couldn't read. She had just gotten saved and she wanted to read the bible and learn more about Jesus. She wanted to be useful for the kingdom of God and reach others for Christ. However the problem is how will she be able to do that?

    Despite her limitation this lady was determined to serve the Lord some how. So she devised a plan for her to hear God's word and to reach others for Jesus Christ. So She would stand at school doors and ask students to read John 3:16 from her Bible, then ask if they knew what it meant. She did this time and time again and because of her simple, sacrificial consistency, 24 of the boys she spoke to eventually became pastors.

    If that women can do that not knowing how to read, and not being able to see. What could God do with you and I? It's not about your talents, or abilities but your availability to God. Even a small ministry can do great things for the Kingdom of God! Don't limit what God can do through you.

How to Follow the Example

We are called to follow the footsteps of Paul and Epaphras in three specific ways:

  • Share Faithfully: We don't have to be "original." Our job is to protect the integrity of the message. While we can use modern tools like Facebook, video, or phone calls, the message of sin, repentance, and Christ's salvation must remain the same.

  • Share Sacrificially: Sharing the Gospel costs something. For Paul, it was his freedom; for Epaphras, it was his time and energy. For us, it might mean the "social cost" of making a post about our faith or the "time cost" of inviting a neighbor to a Bible study.

  • Share Continually: The responsibility to be a witness has no "expiration date" and is not reserved for any specific age or race. Reach others. Reach those who are not being reached. Ask the Lord to guide you to someone who needs to hear the message of the gospel and see what God will do!

ONE FINAL THOUGHT

    In today's world, our "hometown" (like Epaphras's Colossae) includes the digital world. Statistics show that as of 2024, there are over 5.07 billion social media users globally. This represents approximately 62.3% of the world's total population. When we share our faith online, we aren't just shouting into a void; we are accessing a mission field larger than any the Apostle Paul could have imagined.

    The goal for every believer is to ensure our community hears the truth. Whether you are young or old, you have been given the responsibility by Christ to be a witness.

    Think back to that initial question: Is your story big enough? The answer is found in the "fruit" produced by simple faithfulness. You don't need a platform; you just need a person to talk to. 

Location: Ashmore, IL 61912, USA

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