There is an incredibly understated theme all throughout biblical history that I’ve recently uncovered. It’s gone virtually unnoticed because we live in a culture that believes if we are not popular, loved, or accepted by everyone, we’re not popular, loved, and accepted by anyone.
We underestimate the impact our influence can have even on a small scale. With celebrities, performers, and athletes drawing crowds of thousands, and having social media followers in the millions, we undervalue the importance of small-scale interactions; the up-close and personal, one-on-one encounters we have almost all of the time. We can tend to feel if we can’t do it on a grand-scale, it’s simply not worth doing.
I’m so glad God never felt this way about us! While we were yet sinners, Christ loved us and gave His life for us. When we had nothing to offer in return, Christ chose the route of making the first move toward our redemption. But, before He died for the world, take note of the interactions Christ had during His earthly ministry.
- Just Jesus and a woman at the well
- Just Jesus and a woman caught in adultery, after the crowd scatters
- Just Jesus and Nicodemus under the cover of night
- Just Jesus and a little girl healed as they were already mourning her death
- Just Jesus and Peter walking on the water
- Just Jesus and Zacchaeus
- He even faced down Satan one-on-one in the wilderness
- Mary Magdalene mistakes the risen Christ for the Gardner
This theme is not unique to Jesus’ day. God chose to have these encounters with individuals from the dawn of time:
- Adam in the cool of the day
- Enoch walked with God, but God took Him because Enoch pleased God
- Noah, all by his lonesome found grace in the eyes of the Lord
- Abraham, called out of the family idol-making business to become the Father of Many Nations
- Jacob wrestling his “Angel” all night long became the father of the Israelite Nation.
- Moses met God one-on-one at the burning bush
This theme is important because many of these seemingly small inconsequential interactions resulted in transformational and pivotal moments in people’s lives. I call these encounters, An Audience of ONE.
No large crowds. No big venues. Just a one-on-one, up-close and personal, intimate Audience of ONE that would go on to have a huge ripple effect!
- Mary had an audience of one with the Angel Gabriel and went on to become the Mother of Christ!
- Zechariah had an audience of one with the Angel and he and Elizabeth became the elderly parents of John the Baptist, of whom Jesus said there was none greater!
- Peter’s conversation with Jesus after His resurrection, later resulted in Peter preaching on the Day of Pentecost that saved thousands in one day!
- Saul on his way to kill Christians was blinded and sent to Damascus where he had an audience of one with Ananias that resulted in Saul becoming Paul, the greatest missionary of the Bible!
It’s my sincerest belief friends that Jesus still desires these one-on-one intimate conversations with His followers. I believe He still invites us to have an Audience of ONE with Him on a daily basis. Without these small interactions, this Audience of ONE, how can we ever expect to have the monumental impact our predecessors did? It’s just not possible.
Before David ever strummed a calming note on his harp for a tormented King Saul, David had an Audience of ONE with God while tending his father’s sheep.
Before David slew the giant in front of thousands in the Valley of Elah, David had an Audience of ONE with a lion and another with a bear!
Today, do not underestimate the impact your Audience of ONE can have with God. It’s like to become the most transformational moment of your entire life and could potentially have an impact upon you, your family, and those you lead, for generations to come.
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