Can One Yes Really Change the World?
In a world overwhelmed by darkness, division, and discouragement, it’s tempting to believe that one person can’t make a difference. But the truth of the gospel flips that narrative completely. Jesus not only believed that one life matters—He demonstrated it with every step He took, every heart He healed, and every life He transformed.
In Matthew 9:35-38, Jesus saw the crowds, and instead of turning away, He was “moved with compassion.” Not just a passing feeling—this was gut-level compassion. He didn’t withdraw from people’s pain. He walked straight into it.
“When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
(Matthew 9:36)
And then He said something simple, yet world-shaking:
“Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.”
(Matthew 9:38)
He invited His followers to pray. And then—He sent them.
Compassion That Moves Us
Jesus wasn’t moved by ambition, comfort, or recognition. He was moved by love. Deep, disruptive, unstoppable compassion. The kind that doesn’t just feel something—it does something.
That same Spirit is alive and active today. And He’s still inviting us into the harvest. Still calling us to say yes. Still working through ordinary people who are willing to go where He sends, speak when He nudges, and love like He does.
Your Yes Matters
A single yes can become the shade and water someone has been praying for. A single yes can bring the gospel to someone who’s never heard it. A single yes can plant churches, restore dignity, feed families, or open a wheelchair for someone who’s been crawling in the dust.
Saying yes isn’t about being impressive. It’s about being available.
“No person is too far gone for Jesus.”
“No problem is too big for Him to solve.”
“No addiction is too strong. No brokenness is too far gone.”
These aren’t slogans—they’re testimonies. And God’s still writing new ones today through the lives of those who follow Jesus into dark places with light.
From Neighborhoods to Nations
Whether it’s a child in Uganda, a woman selling handcrafts at a border crossing, or a neighbor who’s drowning in quiet despair—there is a harvest waiting. And Jesus is still asking: “Will you go?”
Because missions isn’t just for “special” Christians. It’s for every believer who has experienced the compassion of Christ. Jesus came to your darkness. Now He wants to shine through you into someone else’s.
Don’t Wait. Don’t Hold Back.
The world doesn’t need more passive believers. It needs followers of Jesus who are moved by compassion, filled with the Spirit, and willing to say yes.
So what’s your part? Pray. Go. Give. Encourage. Say yes to the next opportunity He puts in front of you. You might be the answer to someone else’s prayer.
And you might just discover that your yes doesn’t just change someone else’s world—it changes yours too.
Read Matthew 9:36. What does it mean that Jesus was “moved with compassion”? How does this challenge your current mindset toward people in need?
Have you ever felt too ordinary or underqualified to make a difference in God’s kingdom? How does the idea of simply being available, not perfect, speak to you?
Where in your life right now do you sense God might be asking you to say “yes”—even if it feels small or uncomfortable?
What are some practical ways you can stay sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading throughout your week—in your workplace, community, or even online?
We often pray for God to send someone into a situation. What does it look like to be open to being that “someone”? How can we support each other in stepping into those moments?