the importance of recognizing your influence

While foreign missions are an exciting and valuable way to fulfill The Great Commission, we don’t have to go far to make an impact. All that most of us have to do to be in the mission field is to step outside our front door.

We as Believers are all missionaries when we spread the Gospel, whether by actions, words, deeds, or a combination of all three. It has been said that we could be the only Jesus that some people see.

Thought-provoking. Humbling. And something that should spur us on with a vigor to share the Good News about our Savior.

So how are we using our influence?

And yes, we all have influence.

If you are a parent, grandparent, employer, employee, pastor, author, speaker, grocery shopper, neighbor, singer, actor, business owner, medical professional, patient, teacher, student, blogger, or a social media user, you have a platform and a sphere of influence.

Everyone can make a difference for the Lord. We just have to be mindful of our actions, words, and deeds. Here are a few examples:

The parent. Raising children is one of the most important responsibilities we parents will be entrusted with. And the most important thing about raising them? Teaching them about the Lord and praying that they will surrender their lives to Christ. Each day, we set examples for them. Do they see us reading the Bible? Making church a priority? Praying often?  Helping those in need? Do we read the Bible to them on a regular basis, or if they are older, spend time reading and studying the Bible with them?

The grandparent. Grandparents, you truly have no idea the impact you make on your grandchildren. Even if they don’t live nearby, you can still exhibit a heart for God. Sharing your testimony, reminding them of His love for them, texting Bible verses, and being there to talk through the tough times are just a few ways to encourage your grandchild in the Lord.

The employer. As an employer, you can show the love of Christ by being an honorable boss who makes your employees a priority.

The employee. Bosses know when they have an employee who stands out from the rest. Being reliable, punctual, dependable, loyal, and with a good work ethic can go a long way. Yes, a nonbeliever can have those traits as well, but as Christians, we should exemplify them. Do you stand out from the other employees? Are you the one who doesn’t resort to swear words or hateful rhetoric? Who takes pride in your duties, no matter what they are?

The pastor. Pastors, a majority of the people in your congregation on Sunday only hear about Jesus on that day during your sermon. Are you using that time wisely, to carefully explore the Bible in a way that pleases God? Or are you using those few precious moments for other less important matters or to further your own agenda?

The author/writer. Authors and writers, you have an invaluable platform. The written word reaches hearts and minds in a way that the spoken word can’t often do. You don’t only have to write Christian novels to have an effect on your readers. Your bio and the things that matter to you are also impactful.

The medical professional. Healthcare professionals who are Christians approach things from a different perspective. You have the awesome opportunity to pray for (and with if they are agreeable) your patients, to offer reassurance, and your calming presence can do wonders for someone undergoing a medical procedure or one who is scared about a painful diagnosis.

The patient. On the flipside of the medical professional is the patient. My mom has multiple health issues and is confined to a wheelchair. The chronic pain she experiences on a constant basis is often unmanageable. Yet, I have never seen anyone so strong in her faith, and that faith doesn’t stop when she visits the doctor. She has offered to pray for medical professionals (not one has turned her down), has asked them to join her in prayer when she’s about to undergo an excruciating procedure, and has praised the Lord for His goodness in their presence. Will my mom ever be able to do the things she once was able to do before an accident changed her life forever? No. But God is using her to make a mighty difference.

The blogger/social media user. Bloggers and social media users, we have a huge platform for the Lord! Where else can we share the love of Christ to people in multiple nations around the world? While not every post or update needs to be a Bible verse, (I blog on many other items including writing, homeschooling, humor, and movie reviews) our words can encourage someone having a difficult day or shine Christ’s light.

Realize your influence. Whether by visiting with the grocery store clerk and inviting her to church or as an employer treating your employees differently than the worldly employer, you can be the Jesus people see.

No, we won’t do this perfectly. Of this I can personally assure you. But with the Lord’s help, we can seek to share the love of Jesus and the life-giving Gospel no matter what our occupation or role in life.

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Before you go, check out these other posts:

the importance of Christmas

The importance of respectful disagreement

Book News & Giveaways

Kids write the funniest things!

For such a time as this: finding stability in an unstable world

28 verses for uncertain times

how to survive in an out-of-control world

How to Start a Sisters in Christ Group

It’s Friday, but Sunday is Coming

Usually writing comes fairly easily to me. But on this Good Friday, I’m struggling to find the words that can adequately express my gratitude to my Savior. A Savior who was severely beaten and brutally killed for my sins and the sins of all mankind.

I’ve always been a moral person and, in the eyes of the world, a “good person”, but I’ve not always walked with the Lord, and I for sure haven’t always lived for Him. But at the end of the day, being a moral citizen isn’t something that will last for eternity. Being a “good person” will not get me into heaven.

That will come only by surrendering my life to and putting my full faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.

On this day when we reflect on Jesus’ enormous sacrifice on our behalf, would you join me in thanking Him for this sacrifice? That He didn’t stay dead in the tomb, but rose again on that third day? For what He went through for us, with all the sins of everyone who has ever lived, past, present, and future, loaded upon His back. For not leaving us where we were—dead in our sins, hopeless individuals with no eternal future. For the second, third, fourth, and ten billionth chances. For His forgiveness, mercy, and grace, especially since we don’t deserve it.

May we dedicate our lives to living for Him and sharing the Good News of the Gospel—for sharing the hope that is within us that we will someday reside with Him for eternity. May we surrender fully to Him every detail of our lives, details small, large, and all those in between. May we reach out to those who need to know this life-changing message—the only message that matters in a world full of continual messages. May we strive, with His help, to become more like Him everyday and to mourn for those things that grieve Him. To make a difference in this short time we are given, not a difference for ourselves, but a difference in the lives of others for eternity.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. ~ John 3:16

Have a blessed Good Friday!

putting minor inconveniences into perspective

Our power was recently out in our home for several hours. As my daughters and I ate our cold lunches that were meant to be served hot, I found myself wanting to grumble about the inconveniences of a life without electricity.

But then I remembered that, within an hour or two, our power would be restored and all would be well. Two glaring realizations hit me. The first, that we are extremely reliant on electricity and all of the wonderful benefits it provides. The second, that this was a minor and inconsequential matter in the scope of eternity. Likely by next week, I will have forgotten about it.

Some things are not so inconsequential, and I was convicted that, in the end, there are only two things that matter. That I have surrendered my life to Christ and will spend eternity with Him, and that I have shared the hope of Jesus Christ with others.

This put things into perspective. Losing our power was an inconvenience, just as many things in life are. But some things are dangerously labeled as “inconveniences”.

It is often that we allow minor inconveniences to stop us from sharing the hope we have in Him. Minor inconveniences, such as not wanting to tell people about Him because we are embarrassed, are afraid of what they might think, or are concerned about their reaction or worried about losing a friendship.

Minor inconveniences often stop us from sharing about Jesus Christ.

When Jesus gave His life for us, it was a horrible, gruesome death. To carry the sin of every single person in this entire world, those already born and those someday to be born, is a burden only a Savior could shoulder. 

We need to put aside these “minor inconveniences” and boldly proclaim the truth for the One who unwaveringly gave His life for us. Let us not let fear social repercussion or any other “minor” inconvenience that may hold us back from sharing the Good News.

*This post was originally published on Patti’s Porch.