Instruments of Influence

Ephesians 2:10, Matthew 5:13-16

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Do you aspire to be an influencer? It’s a rising trend these days. With the advent of social media and all these full access video channels like YouTube people want to share insights about their hobbies and sports. They want to wow and impress people with their tricks and stunts, give glimpses of their home lives, teach people things they want to influence people and have a positive impact on people. And that’s natural. We want to have a positive impact on our world and on those around us.

So what does God say about being an influencer?

Well, he doesn’t talk about being a social media influencer per se, but God does want his people he wants Christians to be good influences in the world. To show the world his love and to make a positive impact in the world. He wants people to know, he knows, he has seen, he does see how messed up our world is and how messed up we are as individuals, and that he’s come to do something about it.

Jesus was born as one of us in this messed up world, but he was always a perfect influence to those around him. He never fell victim to the peer pressure influences that surrounded him, but he lived in perfect love toward all those. And yet he didn’t come just to be a good influence or a moral teacher, a good example. He came to win salvation for us, and he did that by living that life of love but then, also giving up that life on the cross to pay for the sins of the world, your sins and my sins. To win us membership in God’s family, to make us heirs of eternal life in heaven.

And he brought all those blessings to you in your baptism. He washed your sins away. He gave you faith. He made you a new creation. And for what purpose? Ephesians two verse ten says,

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared in advance so that we would walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10 EHV)

He’s made us new creations so that we might live new lives of service and produce works to glorify his name. It’s not how we’re saved, not even a little bit. We’re saved by grace through faith. Jesus has done everything. But as those who know his love. He wants us to live in that love and positively impact the world through that love. And that’s what he’s talking about in Matthew five where he says,

You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world… In the same way let your light shine in people’s presence, so that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:13-16 EHV)

That is influence. That is impact. To show others the love of Jesus, to show others the love of their Savior. This is influence that makes an eternal difference. And what a privilege that he would give us the joy of serving in his kingdom work. And it is not even us that’s influencing others. It’s God working through us to show them his love and his mercy and the hope that we have in him.

How blessed we are to be instruments of influence in God’s Kingdom.

All glory be to his name. Amen.