2-12 Daily in the Word

Making a Difference through our Behavior

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.”

1 Samuel 2:3


Why would the world want something they already have?

In 1884 a young man died, and after the funeral his grieving parents decided to establish a memorial to him. With that in mind they met with Charles Eliot, president of Harvard University. Eliot received the unpretentious couple into his office and asked what he could do. After they expressed their desire to fund a memorial, Eliot impatiently said, “Perhaps you have in mind a scholarship.” “We were thinking of something more substantial than that...perhaps a building,” the woman replied. In a patronizing tone, Eliot brushed aside the idea as being too expensive and the couple departed. The next year, Eliot learned that this plain pair had gone elsewhere and established a $26 million memorial named Leland Stanford Junior University, better known today as Stanford.

Because he failed to hear all the details and simply dismissed the family’s thoughts, he allowed the money to go to someone else. Charles Eliot had a chance to make a difference at Harvard, but because of his actions, he lost that opportunity.

How often do we as Christians miss opportunities to make a difference in someone’s life because of our actions? As we saw yesterday, in order to make a difference we must first be grounded in God’s Word. We need to know what we believe and be confident enough to share it with others.

To make a difference we also need to be different in our behavior. Our behavior should be distinctly different than the behavior of the world. Second Corinthians 6:17 instructs us with these words, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” God desires for His children to remain unspotted from the world.

There are enough messages, philosophies, and ideas in the world to confuse anyone! The only way we are going to make an impact is if we are different than this world. We must look, act, and speak differently. Why would the world want something they already have? They have their sinful lifestyle, but if we live according to God’s Word, our actions will show that we are different.

If someone were to characterize you based on your actions, what would they say? Would they describe you as being different than the world? Psalm 4:3 says, “But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.” As His child, God has set you apart from the world. He desires to use you to make a difference in the lives of others, but you must first be different.

Take time right now to examine your actions. Are you different than everyone around you? Commit to being different in your appearance, actions, and speech. Ask God daily to help you be different from the world so that others would see Him through your life.

To learn more about the ministries of Lancaster Baptist Church and Pastor Chappell, please visit lancasterbaptist.org.

Daily Bible Reading
Leviticus 13 • Matthew 26:26-50