Difference Makers 

Difference makers are rarely those with the loudest voices or the grandest platforms. More often, they are ordinary people who respond to an extraordinary call with obedience, humility, and faith. Scripture repeatedly shows that God delights in using willing hearts rather than impressive credentials, and this truth remains deeply relevant for us today as Christians.

Mary is perhaps one of the clearest examples of a difference maker. Young, unknown, and without earthly status, she nevertheless recognised the significance of what God was doing in and through her life. Her response was not fear-driven withdrawal but worship-filled surrender. In Luke 1:46–49 she declares, “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour… for the Mighty One has done great things for me.” Mary understood that her significance was not rooted in herself but in the God who had chosen her. Her willingness to say yes altered the course of history. Through quiet faithfulness, she became part of God’s redemptive plan for the world.

The shepherds offer a contrasting but equally powerful picture. They were not influencers or decision-makers; they were marginalised, working the night shift on the edges of society. Yet when they encountered the revelation of Christ, they did not keep it to themselves. Luke 2:17 tells us, “When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child.” Their testimony was simple, authentic, and immediate. They spoke of what they had seen and heard. In doing so, they became the first evangelists of the incarnation. Difference makers are often those who simply refuse to remain silent about the grace they have encountered.

The disciples remind us that making a difference is a journey rather than a single moment. When Jesus called them in Matthew 4:19, he said, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They were not finished products; they were works in progress. Fishermen, tax collectors, and ordinary men were shaped over time by proximity to Jesus. Their influence did not come from perfection but from transformation. They learned, failed, grew, and ultimately carried the message of Christ to the ends of the earth. Their lives tell us that God is less interested in our starting point than in our availability.

Jesus himself makes clear that following him inevitably leads to a visible impact. In Matthew 5:14–16 he says, “You are the light of the world… let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Difference-making is not about self-promotion but God-glorification. The light we carry is not our own; it is reflected light. When we live authentically as followers of Christ, our lives point beyond themselves to the Father.

For us today, the call to be difference makers has not changed. It is not reserved for those on platforms or in positions of formal leadership. It is lived out in workplaces, families, neighbourhoods, and communities. It is expressed through integrity, kindness, courage, and faithfulness in small things. Like Mary, we are invited to trust God with our obedience. Like the shepherds, we are called to share what we have experienced. Like the disciples, we are asked to walk closely with Jesus and allow him to shape us over time.

As Christians, being difference makers means living with intentional faith. It means recognising that God is at work in ordinary moments and ordinary people. Our prayer is not for prominence but for faithfulness. When we choose to follow, speak, serve, and shine, God uses those choices in ways far beyond what we can see. Difference makers are simply people who say yes to God, and through that yes, the world is quietly, faithfully changed.

The question before us is not whether God can use us, but whether we are willing to be used. History, and Scripture, answer the first decisively. Our response answers the second. As we listen for his call and respond in faith, we step into a story far bigger than ourselves, trusting that God still delights in using ordinary people to make an eternal difference for glory, his purposes, and the blessing of others.