A young man strolling along a beach at dawn stopped to watch an older man pick up starfish and toss them back into the sea. The older man said he was rescuing the starfish before the hot summer sun could bake them. Sarcastically, the young man said, "There must be hundreds of starfish here. How can you make any difference?" The old gentleman looked at the starfish in his hand before throwing it into the waves. "It makes a big difference to this one," he replied.

Jesus never let the vast crowds discourage Him from helping individuals. In Luke 8 we read that a multitude pressed about Him (v.40), yet He took time to minister to one man and one woman in need (vv.41-56). Jesus calls us to do the same. But looking on today's multitudes we may say, "How can I make a difference among so many?"

Henri Nouwen wrote, "Those who want to be for 'everyone' find themselves often unable to be close to anyone." Many of us have this problem. Yet we must recognize the importance of ministering to the individual, for Jesus said, "Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me" (Mt. 25:40). It's better to help one than none!  — Joanie Yoder