We went camping at Spring Lake RV Resort in Crossville, Tennessee for a weekend away from the frenetic activities that seem to have overtaken us lately.  The campground has a lovely lake with a beautiful fountain and swan, quite the picture.  The Lord brought numerous thoughts to my mind while I was staring, almost hypnotized by the falling water from the fountain. 

For some reason I thought of the difference between a drip and a drop.  “Not much” you say?  Perhaps not, but there is a nuance that favors one over the other, at least as far as personal characterization is concerned. 

As a noun, the definition of the word “drip” does include the word “drop” but it also includes the words “trickle”, “dribble” and “leak”.  These words reflect, to me at least, some lack of intent … in other words an almost accidental event. 

As a noun, the word “drop” has the definition of “the quantity of fluid that falls in one spherical mass”.  As far as synonyms, the words include “bead”,”globule”, and “dewdrop”.  (I don’t want to be considered a “globule”, but …)

Returning to the fountain, it seems to me that the water sprayed from the fountain and formed drops of water, not drips of water, and those drops rose and then formed an arc when they fell back into the lake.

I further noticed that when the water drops hit the face of the lake, they didn’t just go down into oblivion … rather, they hit the surface and had an effect on the lake, they sent ripples out into the lake.

 

In other words, the lake was not the same after the water droplets hit the surface.  Each drop had an impact on the lake itself, even though it was small and not all that “important” in the overall scheme of things.  While the ripple from an individual drop may not have been huge, the combination of them reached far out into the lake.

So too, we each can make an impact on our world to the glory of God the Father through the power of the Holy Spirit as we reach out and share the gospel story of Jesus Christ and His atoning work on the cross for His people. 

We may not be a great preacher, or an important teacher, or one who has a voice which is heard by millions.  We may be simple folks who love their family, who work in an inconspicuous role at their church, who sing as a choir member but not even as a soloist. 

We may be in the background and think that we are just a small drop, not much to look at and without much effect.  We may even think that we are not important enough or smart enough or loving enough … but if you are a Christian, you are part of the fountain that is the Body of our Lord, and each part is important because Jesus Christ died for each one of His people. 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

Hebrews 12:2. 

Each of us can reflect His love, compassion, and zeal for spreading His gospel to others who need to hear the “Good News”.  That is the race that which is before us and we cannot run it if we are weighed down by sin.

Praise God that when we ask the Holy Spirit to bless our work and then we do what we do to our best abilities, through His power, God will use our efforts and our impact will change our world.  And, I believe, that the “great cloud of witnesses” will rejoice as we fulfill the work that we were ordained to do.

Today, pray that you will reflect Jesus to your world.  Even if you feel as miniscule as a droplet from the fountain, remember that each drop impacts the lake in its own way.  Remember too that you have been chosen by Jesus Christ to spread His gospel to the “world” into which He in His providence has placed you, and He will empower you to do so.

Don’t be a drip — don’t trickle or drizzle around without power or strength.  

Be a drop for our Lord — have an impact for Christ on the people you come in contact with as you live your Christian life through His word His power.  Your effect will be multiplied when you join the rest of the drops as together we ripple through society, spreading the message one drop at a time!

 

Father, thank You for sending your Son to die for my sins so that, through faith in Christ alone, I can join the millions of other saints who will glorify your name throughout all the ages.  I pray that You will guide me as I live my life so that through your power, I will give witness to your Kingdom on this earth.  And, at the end of my days, may I join the “cloud of witnesses” who will rejoice at the coming of your Kingdom on the earth.