This is National Make a Difference Day.

Several years ago, Ron Hutchcraft, nationally known youth worker and speaker, held large “Go M.A.D.!” rallies. He wasn’t encouraging kids to be angry or act crazy. He was urging Christian teenagers to Make A Difference in the world for Christ.

Young people often feel as though they can’t do much in the world. After all, they don’t have power, position, or prestige (or much money). Even adults can feel this way when they consider the enormous problems in the world and think about being just one person out of millions.

But every person, young or old, can make a difference for good.

That’s certainly what happened hundreds of years ago in the hills by the Sea of Galilee. Remember the story? A huge crowd had followed Jesus to hear him teach. It was getting to be mealtime, but they were far from town. Jesus asked Philip, one of the disciples, where they could buy food. Philip answered that he didn’t know; besides, they didn’t have enough money to feed so many people.

Then Peter mentioned that a boy had a small lunch, then added, “But what good is that with this huge crowd?”

Remember what happened next? Jesus took the few loaves and fish and used them to provide food for everyone, with 12 baskets leftover.

That day the disciples learned that Jesus could use every person (no matter how young) and every contribution (no matter how small) to make a difference. What’s important is not the giver or the size of the gift but the Savior who takes it and uses it for his glory.

You can make a difference—in your family, neighborhood, school, church, and the world. It starts with giving your resources, your talents, your time, and most important, yourself to Christ.

“There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?” (John 6:9).

To Do

Get a small packet of sticky notes and print “M.A.D.” on a bunch of them. Then post them inside the front covers of your books and notebooks to remind you of today’s lesson.

Also on this day

1858—Roland Macy opened Macy’s Department Store in New York City.

1858—Theodore Roosevelt, 26^th president of the United States, was born.

1925—Fred Waller received a patent for water skis.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.