The world wont be changed until we are changed individually. How can we be a light when we ourselves may still be living in darkness? I accidently stumbled upon this article... but it really got me thinking...
"When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits, I dreamed of changing the world. As I grew older and wiser, I discovered the world would not change, so I shortened by sights somewhat and decided to change only my country. But it, too, seem immovable. As I grew into my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt, I settled for changing only my family, those closest to me, but alas, they would have none of it. And now I lie on my deathbed, I suddenly realized: If I had only changed myself first, then by example I would have changed by family. From their inspiration and encouragement, I would then have been able to better my country and, who knows, I may have even changed the world." -found on a tomb at Westminster Abby
Jesus knows that the world can only be changed when individual people are changed. Jesus often dealt with individual people. He met them at the level of their need, no matter where He was or how great the multitudes were. He stopped everything and called down Zacchaeus (Luke 19:5); He stopped everybody to find the women with the issue of blood (Mark 5:34); He called out blind Bartimaeus from the crowds (Mark 10:49), He removed the crowds with a question, then forgave a women caught in sin (John 8:11); He met a Samaritan women alone (John 4:7); He gave the 'born again' message to one person (John 3:5); He gave the 'keys to the kingdom' to one person-Peter (Matt. 16:19). Jesus loves you enough to change you into what you should be and He is now asking you the same question he asked James and John in Mark 10:35: "What would ye that I should do for you?"
I was walking down the staircase in my home, when i looked up i saw what i must have passed by thousands of times,
Sure, intercessary prayer is needed, but I think we may be forgetting the bigger picture. What good is it for the rest of the world to be saved when we can't even save our own families? Maybe we should first call ourselves "Us-Changers", then "Family Changers" then "Community Changers" then "Culture Changers" then finally, when we have truly made a change, "WORLD CHANGERS"
