Parents are the number one influence during the early years in our lives. How they respond to stress, how they discipline and how they generally lived their life had a major impact on who we are today.
Friends; do you remember peer pressure? The biggest mistakes we made as adolescents can almost always be trace backed to a decision we made to follow someone else down the wrong path.
Spouse; he/she in most cases will be the driving influence in our life spiritually. They will either enable us to be a good steward for God or they will make it very difficult to stay on the straight and narrow path.
The boss, for most of us will be several different people through out our lives. They are in a position to have the biggest influence in our day to day life. The power they have over us can cause many stressful days, if they do not know how to use that position of authority wisely.
The Pastor, of all the people in our lives the pastor is the only person, that most people turn to when they are in need. They see their pastor as the neutralizer to a bad week, the channel to god's help and the person GOD has placed into their life that will make it all better.
So where am I going with this, right?
We are; the parents, the friends, the spouse, the boss, and we are all ministers for Jesus Christ.
The influence we have on others directly impacts their future in Christ.
As parents it is imperative we live a Christ like life for our children. They need to see us love each other and serve each other. If we can be deliberate in our walk with Christ it will be natural for our children to follow us.
As friends our goal is to live a Christ like life and support our friends through fellowship and accountability.
As a spouse we need to walk in Christ together. If your spouse is not yet saved, then live your life in a way that truly represents God and allow your life to influence him/her.
As a boss, God has placed you in a position of authority for a reason. He's ultimate plan may not be clear to you. So, care about your employees and their families. Do your best to support them and develop them. If you take the time to truly know them they will begin to trust you. If you gain their trust your influence will be greater.
People tend to reflect their leader, if you spend your day gossiping and talking trash about others, lying and be deceitful, being immoral and lack the fore site to communicate, it wont be long and those who choose to follow you will follow you to their unfruitful end. BUT, if you are of strong moral character, compassionate for others and communicate a strong vision of the future, those who chose to follow will grow both spiritually and professionally.
As a minister in your church and community your life is going to touch many people as you go about your day. These lost souls need to be shown their way to Christs love. They need to be shown that we all have a direct connection with God through prayer and though that prayer all things can be be made whole.
So, who do you follow? I pray that your answer is GOD.
Lord, let our actions lead others to follow you. Give us the wisdom and courage to lead others through our walk with you.
