![]() ![]() Influence is like a muscle – use it or lose it. Most of us have far more influence than we’ve ever imagined. Realize that you do have influence and you simply need to recognize it. And think about the people you seem to connect with the best. Take inventory of your experiences, your talents and abilities, your passions and interests. Stop and think about who you influence, and how you best influence them. To be a good steward of your influence, you need to do at least three things: 1. There are problems that need to be fixed and causes that need to be advanced – especially the cause of telling the whole world about Jesus – and we need every Christian to be influencing the world on Jesus’ behalf. What we need in this world is a lot more positive influence. In fact, Jeremiah 15:19 says, “You are to influence them do not let them influence you.” And he wants you to preserve it and to keep it from going rotten. God wants you to season the world – to make the world tastier and not so bland. Those are the three things God wants you to do with your life in this culture. ![]() Later, Jesus said, “You are like salt for the whole human race.” Why does God want us to be the salt of the earth? Because salt seasons, it improves taste, and it preserves. In the same way, it’s wasteful to refuse to use your influence. You don’t get a lightbulb and then never use it. In Matthew 5:16, Jesus says, “Let your light shine, so that others will see the good that you do and will praise your Father in heaven.” Jesus doesn’t want you to waste your influence. Someday we’re going to give an account to God of how well we influenced others for good and for God. You were put here to be an influence for good. I’m just thinking about little ol’ me.” In fact, Jesus commands that you use your influence for good in this world. ![]() In fact, it’s quite selfish to say, “I don’t really care about the rest of the world. What is influence? The Cambridge Dictionary defines influence as, “the power to affect how someone develops, acts, or thinks.” God expects you to be an influence. God expects you to use your influence to help other people. The word for that in the Bible is called “stewardship.” Stewardship is the Old English word for “management.” And just as you manage your time and your money, you also manage your influence. God expects you to make the most of the things he gives you. Everything you have is a gift from God – your health, your life, your salvation, your freedom, your friends, your family, your opportunities. ![]()
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