We hear about prominent figures, television personalities, world leaders, famous authors. But most of us are ordinary people – not famous. We care about the state of our world as we hear of countries being ravaged and individuals without food, water, medicine. We sigh as the news highlights tragedies in our own communities. Many ordinary people care about showing God’s love in practical ways. So, a question we ask: How can I ever make a difference in this huge world? I’m one of the ordinary people!

We already identified a main question ordinary people often ask – How can I ever make a difference in this huge world? Followers of Jesus should be asking questions. Maybe you’ve asked some of them, yourself:

Where did you find yourself in those questions? What does your part look like with so many diverse people? How can you help make communities better, provide practical help, touch a world for Christ? How do you effectively set aside differences to achieve common goals?

Trying to help address global problems seems like continual crisis management.

I think it helps to start where God starts. Here are some ideas He came up with.

He made you different than any other person – with a unique personality, individual skill sets, custom-designed passions, very specific purposes. And it pleased Him.

Since Christ is not divided, He has a plan that encompasses all personalities, abilities, skill sets, and view-points He created. God’s brilliant strategies involve each individual and organization. His agenda is to gather up the globe’s greatest treasure: human souls!

Best results occur when ordinary people strategize using God’s Word. We often don’t see the full picture as we build together. But God sees it. When we agree with God, we are also agreeing with each other.

Making a global difference is like a puzzle Parts that are identical don’t connect together well. They stack and they line up neatly. But they are not effective because they don’t “fit” into one another. They need an “opposite puzzle piece” to join to.

This differentness completes the partnership of our work together to make a difference in Jesus’ name. Together, we can put the global puzzle together.

Your “individualness” matters, even as an ordinary person. But your part looks different than other person’s (or organization’s) parts. That’s God’s strategic design. Different pieces interconnect. We just need to find one another and deeply appreciate our different shapes. God knows how the puzzle will look. Putting many ordinary pieces together can make an extraordinary picture! So –

Puzzle pictures become increasingly engaging as they are assembled. Sometimes you might work a border with others. Another time, you may form a corner or center portion that becomes clear enough to define. Still, there are times you search and search for missing pieces that seem to be hiding. There is joy in finding, placing, strategizing, partnering. Your contribution as an ordinary person makes such a difference in the whole picture.

Without you, the final picture has a hole.

Again, let’s just say – global diversity starts where God starts. Here are more of His ideas:

As an ordinary person, it takes pensive exploration to see how your life fits into a world scenario. Because you are a global citizen, explore how to integrate a meaningful life for yourself and pour into making the world a better place for others.

As ordinary people ponder how approaches, methods, and resources can promote unity and practical action steps, global citizens joined across the world can accomplish the enormous scope of the task.

Since you (and I) have limited wisdom, two things help gain it:

Your inner reflections and desires are important. God gave them to you. But if you experience them only inside you, they have little effect on the world. They can be devotional for you – but it does nothing for anyone else. How can your life affect a huge globe? Connect with your design, and move globally in a constructive manner.

God wants to build up and edify:

The model prayer Jesus taught His disciples starts with, “Your Kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” And it ends with, ”For Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever.”

So connect your design with God first.

God cares for all His children – for you. So many people are suffering and lost. Jesus sacrificed Himself for all people, globally, across all centuries. He invites each of us to partner with Him in His reach to others. It may be in another country. But it might be down your street!

Since we want to be practical as we engage relevant and reasonable action steps, here are some ideas to prime your pump as an ordinary, caring, global citizen:

Best results are determined when you prayerfully set a direction and target your portion to make a global difference – as an ordinary person.

The above ideas and action steps provide your practical application for this content. So, to engage these action steps, go back through this material and seriously ask yourself what you can and will do to be an ordinary, caring global partner. Creatively use your mind, skill set, resources, and experience to make a global difference.

Why not be a global partner, even as an ordinary person?

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