Influence

Who influences you? This summer, the teen Sunday school class did a study about influencers. I admit that I am on several social media platforms. I would think that you are reading this because this blog is shared on one of those. My own children enjoy certain Youtube creators, and sometimes ask to do the same things. My husband often sends me quick videos of people cooking crazy foods, suggesting I recreate these recipes. I actually comply with some of these requests, but hardly ever. (Sorry, guys!)

                Jesus Christ should be every Christians’ biggest influence, but is He? I am highly opinionated on some topics, and wishy-washy on others. Jesus is not like that, though. He is righteous, and knows what His Father wants. He came to teach us. He came to tell us there is a better way of living. HE is the best way. Our ways are not. I am still reading through the Old Testament of my bible plan for the year. If I stay on schedule, I will have read the entire Bible in one year. Even after all God has done for His people, they still do what they want. They are completely disobedient. The nations of Israel and Judah constantly have good, godly kings succeeded by evil, wicked kings (their own sons). God sent many prophets to tell His people that they needed to turn from their evil ways and turn back to Him. Some people did, but not very many. Whenever the king would change, his people would also mainly turn to God too. The kings at the time would influence their people.

                Think about some of the radical things Jesus said and did. He taught people to love their enemies! Most of us say that we love our families, and that we love our friends. Celebrities say they love their fans. But, to love people who are entirely against you? During the time Jesus was walking on earth, the Roman government was oppressing the Jewish people. They were highly taxed and had very little control of what they could do. They were looking for a leader that would get them out of the control of Caesar. They were hated by the Romans, and other nations. How could they love people who hate them? How can we love people who hate us? It’s what Jesus tells us to do, though. Jesus asks us to be different than others, to be different than pagans. How can we influence others if we act exactly the same as non-believers? We are to be influencers ourselves, not just to our families, but also to others. Jesus loved not just the Jews, although they were the ones He spent the most time with. He wanted those He taught to teach others.

                43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[i] and hate your enemy. 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 5:43-48