Not literally, of course.

Catherine of Siena was a Dominican tertiary (a tertiary is a layperson considered part of a monastic order) in the 1300’s, but her words back then still hold a great challenge for us today:

“Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.”

She lived this statement, refusing to marry as her parents wished, and committing herself completely to the service of God and of others.

Catherine had tremendous impact on her world for two major reasons:

• She had a clear vision (leading) from God.
• She obeyed that leading and stuck to it when things got tough.

She also said,

“Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring.”

One of the other things we need to remember as we get out there to change the world is that we can only be who God created us to be. The apostle Paul reminds us that the church is like the body of Christ. Each of us has different parts to play within the body – some flashy and some not so flashy – but all equally critical to the healthy functioning of the body.

No matter what your passion, gifting, experience or education, pursue obedience with all that you are and keep at it, even when the road gets difficult.

That is how we will set the world on fire in 2017!