Early in his life, Jesus grew in insight, standing, and in favour before God and man.
Luke 2:52 (ESV) And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
As we walk in God’s blessings, we become a delight to God and to the people around us! This increases our influence.
Your influence on the lives of others continues even long after you’ve gone. Your influence can be passed on from one generation to the next; your influence will impact your family for generations to come. When you die in the Lord, your life has a positive influence on your children and your children’s children. If you refuse to follow God, it also influences your children and your children’s children.
Influence changes people.
Proverbs 13:20 (ESV) Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
1 Corinthians 15:33 (NLV) Do not let anyone fool you. Bad people can make those who want to live good become bad.
God, of course, is the most powerful Influencer of all. Everything exists because of Him. His providence and goodness are manifested every day. Who can comprehend the eternal influence of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ? Who can understand the daily working of the Holy Spirit to restrain evil in the world and to draw men to bow at Calvary for pardon and reconciliation with God? That’s influence!
Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV) “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Rose Kennedy wrote about the power of influence – “It’s a tremendous responsibility. What you do with one individual can influence not only him, but everyone he meets, and not for a day or a month or a year, but for time and eternity.”
We can influence people. We must remember that we are held accountable, and God will judge how we influence others. We should evaluate our influence on others by biblical standards. Finally, we should allow God to work through us to influence others.
The beauty of being a good influence is that while we are a good influence on others, they too may become a good influence on others as well. Then all of us will demonstrate Christlikeness.