Joyce Kwan is a sustainability and community leader who believes in the ripple effect. She raised funds in a Polar Plunge and was team captain for a Tower Climb. She heads to the beach with gloves and garbage bags too. Each time, she’s not just raising money or serving the community. She’s also inspiring others.

That’s the ripple effect. One person makes a difference. Then others make a difference. Like throwing a rock into a pond.

But sometimes we don’t want to get into the water. Without an initial splash—big or small—there are no ripples.

We need the rippling waves of God’s forgiveness and mercy, new life from the Holy Spirit, and strength and truth from Jesus to carry us farther away from our small selves into his bigger opportunities and purposes for us. 

With one command, Jesus healed ten men of incurable leprosy. For one man, Jesus broke the evil hold of two thousand demons: “So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed” (Mark 5:20). With one drop of water at your baptism, Jesus empowered every single drop of his blood to wash your many sins away.

One splash—no matter how big or small—creates ripples in an entire pond, an entire family or church, an entire team, a community, and even the world. 

Dear Jesus, Master of the ripple effect, carry me away from my small thinking out into your ocean of opportunities for me. Amen.