Be the Change

 I’d like to build the world a home and furnish it with love. Grow apple trees and honeybees and snow-white turtledoves. I’d like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony. I’d like to hold it in my arms, and keep it company.

 

Growing up I remember singing that song from the Coke advertisements. It was a great ad but is singing a song or having a Coke with someone really going to change the world? We are called to live like Christ no matter what our age. Our lives are to be a reflection of who Christ is within us to all we come in contact with.

 

You may wonder how can I, one teenager; make a change in our world?

 

A changed world must first begin with you. Each one of us individually can make a difference. Micah 6:8 (NASB) says, He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Loving what is right, showing kindness and walking humbly with God impacts everyone you come in contact with. If you want to be the change, start with yourself. Pray for God to change your heart. To break your heart for what breaks His. Ask God to give you His eyes, and His ears, so that you can see and hear the needs around you.

 

Starting with yourself, your desire to change the world will grow to include others who are in our life. As you walk humbly with God, like Micah 6:8 says, you will find in your day many situations that require you to show kindness. Your family, your friends and those in your classes will need you to show His love and His kindness to them. Moment by moment we affect the world by how we choose to react to those in our lives.

 

Your attitude towards others is either going to open or close the door to Christ. Your prayers for others are an act of love for them.

 

Your friendships are also a means of sharing yourself and your relationship with Christ.   As you share your heart with your friends, their hearts can be won for Christ. When that happens, you can walk with them and support them in their spiritual growth.

 

You can change the world. Start with yourself and then be willing to let God use you with others in your family and in your school, clubs you belong to or in the sports you play. There are so many people that would love someone to care enough to sit and visit with them over a cup of coffee, some FroYo or even while drinking a Coke. This simple act can change our world.

 

Maybe the Coke song is on to something…

 

I’d like to build a world a home and furnish it with love. Grow apple trees and honey bees and snow-white turtledoves.

 

I’d like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony. I’d like to hold it in my arms, and keep it company.

 

I’d like to see the world for once all standing hand in hand. And hear them echo through the hills for peace throughout the land.

 

It’s the real thing (Jesus is the real thing) what the world wants today (Jesus is what the world NEEDS today), that’s the way I’ll stay with the real thing. (With Jesus)

 

I’d like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony. A song of peace that echoes on and never goes away.

 

Today I want to challenge you to make an effort to really press into God and be willing to let Him change you and mold you into a reflection of Him for the world to see. Then I want to challenge you to pray and ask God to show you where there is a need and how you can be used to make a difference.

 

The change you want to see in the world begins with you. Are you willing to try?