Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. 1 John 2:15-17. (emphasis mine)
INFLUENCE. We all have influence. Good or bad. The simple fact that we live and breathe influences those around us. We influence our family unit, birth order, children, social circles, workplace, ministry, and marriage, just to name a few. Because we exist we have influence.
Influence is defined: the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something, or the effect itself.
Within our church family and staff we have talked quite a bit lately about the priority of using our influence to disciple others. As a Christ-follower, I have been commissioned to go and make disciples. (Matthew 28:19-20). We are to use our influence to disciple the hearts and lives of others for Jesus’s sake.
Mark Dever, in a book called Discipling says “A disciple (of Jesus) is one who disciples.” Plain and simple. They two go hand in hand. In other words, if you professed to be walking in a relationship with Jesus, you are to be simultaneously using your influence to disciple others around you.
Dever goes on to say in his book,
“To be a Christian means to be a disciple. There are no Christians who are not disciples. And to be a disciple of Jesus means to follow Jesus. There are no disciples of Jesus who are not following Jesus. Ticking a box on a public opinion poll, or sincerely labeling yourself with the religion of your parents, or having a preference for Christianity as opposed to other religions – none of these things makes you a Christian. Christians are people who have real faith in Christ, and who show it by resting their hopes, fears, and lives entirely upon Him. They follow Him wherever He leads. You no longer set the agenda for your own life; Jesus Christ does that. You belong to Him now. ‘You are not your own,’ Paul says. ‘You were bought with a price’ (see 1 Cor. 6:19-20). Jesus is not just our Savior – He is our Lord.”
I think a lot about this as I raise my children. I want to disciple them in the things of God. But discipling is way more than just working through a book study with them or reading a Bible verse to them before school. A friend of mine recently shared a quote with me that I believe sums up discipleship quite well.
“Discipleship is personally transferring the full dimensions of your relationship with Christ to the person you are walking with. It is not the imparting of spiritual disciplines as much as it is acquainting another with a Person you love.” Henry Blackaby
I want to live by example. I want to use my influence in it’s full dimension to disciple my children and others to Jesus.
And so, along with seeking to know God more through His Word, His church, and prayer, I also am to selflessly pour out what He is pouring in, into the lives of others – those that I influence.
Want to know what I’m learning? I have a long way to go!
The problem we all face, and especially those of us who live in this “self-focused” culture, is that we are too busy worrying about what we are getting out of life to give any part of ourselves in self-sacrifice to the growth of others.
I share with you another excerpt from Dever’s book –
“If you have never seen pigs come to a trough for mealtime, you can probably imagine it. Pushing. Shoving. Snorting. Swallowing as much as they can with no thought for others.
Here’s a funny question were thinking about for a moment: Is that how you attended church last Sunday?
No, I’m not calling you a pig. But stopping consider: Where did you park? What time did you get to church? Where did you sit? Who did you speak to? Each one of these decisions provided you with an opportunity to give yourself to others and so join in the work of Christ. Or they provided you with an opportunity to look out for yourself, and do what is best for you. So which was it? Did you consciously strategize how to bless others with each one of those decisions? Being a disciple of Jesus means orienting our lives toward others just as Jesus did.”
This passage really stepped on my toes. If I am leading others by example to the love of Jesus, I am to be considering each moment, each encounter as an opportunity to influence and disciple them. God help me to do so! I don’t want to constantly focus on how my life experiences are shaping and affecting me but how I, by the truth of God’s Word and His power, am shaping those I influence.
The “others” who see through a facade faster than anyone else is usually your family and spouse – those who live closest to you. Does my behavior contradict my words? Do I speak peace and live in chaos? Am I undisciplined and irritable? Discipling is both studying God’s truth with those you love and influence, as well as, living it out by example through the power of the Holy Spirit.
PINIMAGE
PINIMAGEThe other day while I was enjoying my weekly discipleship opportunity with Sophie and Bianca, I read something in our current study that struck me. The book was talking about Eve’s sin in the garden. The familiar story described her temptation to seek what was pleasing to her eyes, what she craved for physical pleasure and what appealed to her pride. Eve took a bite of the fruit. You probably know what happened next. The book told the story and then asked the question. “(When she made her choice) Was she loving God?” … “or was she being selfish, thinking about what she could get for herself.”
When Eve took a bite of the fruit. “Was she loving God?”
The question struck me. Could discipleship be summed up in a simple question like this? When I influence others, whether intentionally through discipleship opportunities or indirectly by simply being who I am, do I do so in a manner that I am loving God with my choices?
- Am I loving God when I influence my co-workers? Or am I withdrawn or argumentative?
- Am I loving God when I converse with the waitress or cashier? Or do I act entitled or irritable?
- Am I loving God when I address and engage my children? Or do I shoo them off so I can have time for me?
- Am I loving God when I influence my spouse? Or am I a burden and a drain?
- Am I loving God when I post on social media? Or am I complaining or grandstanding?
You’ve been given today. How will you impact those you influence? Maybe it’s time to become more intentional with discipleship. Who has God placed in your life for a kingdom purpose?
Perhaps you are in difficult places with difficult people. When you find yourself in those situations ask God to empower you to be His vessel, to point them to Him, to disciple and influence in a way that brings Him glory. Live in a way that, whatever the circumstance, if the question was asked, “Was she loving God?” The answer would be “yes!”
