JUST ONE

God was incredibly angry with mankind.  The Bible says, "The LORD saw how great 
man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the 
thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.  The LORD was grieved that he 
had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.  So the LORD said, 
'I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—men and 
animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air—for I am 
grieved that I have made them'" (Genesis 6:5-7).  However, Noah found favor with 
God.  Because there was just one who was righteous, mankind was given a second 
chance.
	
The Jews were in terrible trouble.  An evil man named Haman hated Mordecai the Jew.  
In fact he hated all Jews.  The Bible says, "When Haman saw that Mordecai would 
not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged.  Yet having learned who 
Mordecai's people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead 
Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai's people, the Jews, throughout 
the whole kingdom of Xerxes" (Esther 3:5-7).  However, Esther found favor with 
Xerxes, the King of Persia.  Because there was just one who was willing to risk her life, 
the Jews were given a chance to defend themselves.
 	
The people were hungry.  They had been listening to Jesus all day and they were in a 
deserted area where there was little food.  The apostles had urged Jesus to send the 
people away but the Lord told the apostles to feed them instead.  The Bible says, "
	Philip answered him, 'Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for 
each one to have a bite!'  Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, 
spoke up, 'Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how 
far will they go among so many?'" (John 6:7-9).  However, Jesus was present.  
Because there was just one who had brought something to eat, five thousand were fed.

It's easy to think that, in the big, big world in which we live, one can do little to make a 
difference.  These stories indicate otherwise.  Noah saved his family.  Esther gave the 
Jews another chance.  One little boy fed thousands.  What difference will you, ONE, 
make this week?

Leslie S. Chapman