Trouble MakersSample

//Trouble Makers//

Your life has a ripple effect to it. Like a coin thrown into a fountain, everything you do, every word you say, every decision you make, has the potential to send out ripples that impact the world around you. Knowing that you have the ability to impact others is exciting for some people, but for me, it has always been terrifying.

What if I make the wrong decision? What if I say or do something that people don’t understand? What if people think I’m dumb? The fear of going unnoticed can quickly become the hope of being unnoticed when you are worried about the ripples you are putting into the world.

All of my worrying about the ripples I am making comes down to one thing: I don’t want to cause anyone any trouble. I don’t want the conflict that could come if my actions aren’t accepted by the rest of the world. People can get offended by anything, I hope they aren’t offended by me; I want to maintain the status quo.

The status quo is the way things normally go. No changes, no surprises, no growth, no new; just the same old, same old. What do we call someone that upsets the status quo?

A trouble maker.

In the book of Acts, Paul and his friends do so much to upset the status quo, that the people in power start a riot just to try and silence them. Paul and his friends refused to let the fear of offending someone to keep them from declaring the truth.

Yeah, Paul and his friends were trouble makers.

God uses trouble makers. God uses people bold enough to say that things should be different. God uses people that are more interested in change than they are afraid of conflict. In fact, the Bible has a name for true trouble makers:

Prophets. 

Prophets are people willing to stand up and declare the truth. Prophets are not interested in popularity, acceptance, or the approval of others. Prophets make trouble by standing on the side of truth, by choosing to obey God, regardless of the consequences. Prophets don’t make ripples, they make waves.

The year 2020 has been anything but status quo; it’s the perfect time to make some trouble, to stand up for the truth like Paul.  Twenty twenty is the year for trouble makers to rise up and make some waves. Let’s set aside the fear. It’s time to make some trouble.

1. REFLECT: Have you ever let fear keep you from doing what God was calling you to do?


2. REACH: If you knew that God was on your side, and that you couldn’t fail, what would you do to show others Jesus?


3. RESPOND: Pray, “Lord, forgive me for the times that I have let fear keep me from boldly following You. Use me to make a difference in my world, to be a trouble maker. Amen.”