Whether you believe it or not, people are constantly watching you. Have you considered how you are influencing them?
My life has not always been an influence for Christ. I was more about influencing them to admire me. What possible good did that do me OR them? Whatever short burst of satisfaction was produced is certainly gone now! We influence those around us in every aspect of our life. For example a person can be…
An egotistical boss who manages employees with an iron fist.
A lazy employee who has zero credibility with co-workers.
A woman who uses her body to influence a man.
A man who uses his power to seduce a woman.
A politician who reframes the question to avoid the truth.
A “friend” who introduces someone to marijuana.
A mother addicted to her smart-phone.
A workaholic father who never sees his family.
We are ALL leading someone to do something—just like we’ve ALL been led by someone.
And believe me, even when you are on fire for Christ, it’s easy to slip back into being a bad influence because our enemies want us to stay stuck in the muck and drag everyone we know with us. My friend, misery always begets misery. Hate produces hate. Greed produces greed. Lust produces more of the same. And the list goes on because…
Unless our soul and spirit are born again AND we are manifesting the attitudes of Christ, we are NOT capable of producing an influence beyond our own fleshly desires.
A beggar is always ravenous and has no bread to share. But if we are rich in Christ, we have the ability to give those around us the greatest need for their soul—a relationship with Jesus! But we can’t fake His love, joy, peace, wisdom and strength.
To produce the influence of God’s Spirit, He must be real in our life; in other words, our thinking, talking and living must be influenced by Him!!!
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Galatians 5:22-25
There is no more powerful influence than God’s supernatural love. It conquered death. If we are true children of God, our ability to influence people goes beyond the grave. Think about it…what eternal thing does Taylor Swift or Elon Musk add to your life? They may have a powerful influence on many people—and have many followers—but I don’t think either of them would say they are omnipotent, omnipresent or able to sacrificially love their adoring fans, right?
But WE have the ability to show people JESUS, who DOES LOVE and Who CAN SAVE them from—eternal death!
Do you see how our influence, as born again believers, is more powerful than even the richest man in the world? When I think about yesterday, I wonder if I missed any opportunity to influence someone for Christ and change the course of their eternity. Oh Lord, I hope not! I am thanking God for today and praying He renews my mind in His divine purpose. I am praying for Him to create in me His attitudes so people look at me and see Him!
Jesus was the greatest influence to walk the planet. He set the standard and reminded us that we must be willing to submit ourselves to His plan in order to also be a great influencer like He was. Like all great leaders, He did not ask us to do anything that He did not also do Himself. He said:
“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?” Luke 9:23-25
Jesus gave it all. He has empowered us to do the same. When we live for Christ, we find our true identity and are never lost in the influence of this world. When we are under the influence of His Spirit, we WILL influence those around us in a way that will forever change their eternal destiny.
