THE WORTH OF THE INDIVIDUAL

The story is told of a little girl walking along the beach who discovers hundreds of starfish

washed up onto the shore, dying from the heat of the sun. Here and there, as she skips

along, she tosses a starfish back into the surf. They will live while the hundreds remaining on

the shore will die.

Upon returning home the little girl tells her mother what she has done. “What you did with

those few starfish doesn’t make any difference,” replies her mother.

“Well it made a difference with the ONEs I threw back,” retorts the little girl.

• Jesus left 99 sheep for the ONE who was lost. It made a difference to him. (Luke 15:1-7)

• Jesus healed ONE man by a pool of water. It made a difference to him. (John 5:1-17)

• Jesus walked 90 miles through the desert to find and win Philip. It made a difference to

him. (John 1:43)

SomeONE probably singled you out – as an INDIVIDUAL. And it made a difference to

YOU.

In a world where numbers impress; where people are herded around like cattle and analyzed,

counted, and generalized to death, keep in mind the fact that God still died for each INDI-

VIDUAL.

And the deep, significant differences made in people’s lives are usually done at the INDI-

VIDUAL level: ONE by ONE, and ONE on ONE.

Paul understood the worth of the INDIVIDUAL: “As you well know, we dealt with you ONE by

ONE, as a father deals with his children.” (I Thessalonians 2:11 – NEB)

QUESTION: Has God placed a beached and parched “starfish” across your path. One who

could use a helping hand in getting to the cool healing waters of Jesus Christ, the Living

Water? (John 4:14). Why not decide today… this week… to make a difference to him?