Jim Burns Homeword Daily Devotional for Parenting and Christian Family

<< HomeWord, with Jim Burns

HomeWord - June 24, 2011


 An Army of Two
This devotional was written by Jim Liebelt

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 
—Ephesians 2:10

An old lighthouse sits on the edge of the shore in Scituate, Massachusetts. At this lighthouse a plaque memorializes what has been called “An Army of Two.” During the Revolutionary War, a British ship anchored just off shore and lowered smaller boats with British troops that headed toward the shore. Two young girls, having seen the British soldiers approaching from the lighthouse, took a drum and fife outside and played. The British troops heard the music and mistakenly assumed that the noise was coming from an American militia and quickly retreated. No one would have ever thought that two young girls could have won a decisive battle that day – all without a shot ever being fired.

If you’ve ever thought that you can’t make a difference, let this simple, true story from America’s history be an encouragement to you. Amazingly, something as simple as playing a fife and drum can make a huge difference! God has gifted you uniquely and specially and if you offer yourself to Him today – you can expect that even in some small way, He will provide you with opportunities to make a difference in someone else’s life.

How? Who knows? It may not take much. Perhaps a kind word spoken to a stranger, an e-mail to a friend, giving a hug to a family member, or helping a peer at school or work – could be just the encouragement that someone in your life needs to help them make it through a tough day.

Don’t underestimate God’s willingness to use your ordinary actions to touch the life of someone else in extraordinary ways! Today, be willing to be “An Army of One.”

GOING DEEPER:

1. What can today’s story teach you about your own ability to make a difference?

2. Pray, committing this day to God – asking Him to use you to make a difference in someone’s life.

FURTHER READING:

Philippians 4:132 Corinthians 1:3-7

Sign up here for Parenting Resources and other HomeWord publications.


More HomeWord, with Jim Burns Articles